HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5760

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to higher education tuition.

Brief Description:  Eliminating the number restriction on waivers for foreign students at institutions of higher education.

Sponsors:  Senators Kohl, McAuliffe, Wood, Drew and Prince.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  3/16/95, 3/30/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Carlson, Chairman; Mulliken, Vice Chairman; Jacobsen, Ranking Minority Member; Mason, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Benton; Blanton; Delvin; Mastin and Sheahan.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Goldsmith.

Staff:  Susan Hosch (786-7120).

Background:  Under current law, the governing boards of the public baccalaureate institutions and the community colleges may waive all or a portion of  tuition and services and activities fees for undergraduate or graduate students of foreign nations.   The waivers are intended to promote reciprocal placements and waivers in foreign nations for Washington residents.

There is a restriction on the number of waivers that may be awarded to students of foreign nations.  Each of the two state universities may award up to 100 waivers to undergraduate or graduate students of foreign nations.  Each of the regional universities and The Evergreen State College may award up to 20 waivers to undergraduate or graduate students of foreign nations.   When granting the waivers, the institutions will give a priority to students on academic exchanges or in academic special programs sponsored by recognized international education organizations.  The institutions are not permitted to grant a greater number of waivers than the number of students that the institution has enrolled in approved study abroad programs.

Summary of Bill:  Within the overall statutory limits on all waiver programs, the restrictions on the number of waivers that may be granted to foreign students attending public baccalaureate institutions is removed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:   Washington is the most trade dependent state in the country.  Through this program, students from Washington have a chance to study abroad and international students have a chance to attend Washington's baccalaureate institutions.  Those international students help to educate native students about the culture, history, language, and  economic structures in other lands.  Most colleges abroad do not charge nonresident student.  Some do not charge any tuition.  Therefore, waiving tuition for some international students creates equity when students from Washington are studying abroad at an institution that charges no or low tuition.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Sherry Burkey, JoAnne Yang, Shannon Scoggin, and Professor Richard Moxon, University of Washington (all in favor).