HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1607

                      As Passed House:

                        March 1, 1995

Title:  An act relating to international education.

Brief Description:  Creating opportunities for international education.

Sponsors:  Representatives Van Luven, Carlson, Sheldon, Wolfe and B. Thomas.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Trade & Economic Development:  2/13/95 [DP].

Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  3/1/95, 70-28.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Chairman; Radcliff, Vice Chairman; D. Schmidt, Vice Chairman; Veloria, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Ballasiotes; Hatfield; Hickel; Mason; Sherstad; Skinner and Valle.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:   The state of Washington has seen mutual benefit from educational, cultural, and business exchanges with other countries.  These exchanges further the understanding between the citizens of Washington and other countries.

Summary of Bill: Washington International Exchange Scholarships

The Washington International Exchange Scholarship program is created.  The program is designed to provide scholarships, up to one academic year, to students from countries that have trading relationships with Washington.

The program is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HEC Board).  The HEC Board shall: (1) convene an advisory committee; (2) select exchange students to receive scholarships; (3) adopt rules and guidelines to carry out the program; (4) publicize the program; (5) solicit and accept grants and donations from all sources; (6) establish service obligations of exchange students; (7) establish criteria for selecting countries to participate in the program; and (8) negotiate and enter agreements with countries to allow Washington students to attend international institutions under similar terms and conditions.

The Washington International Exchange Trust Fund is established in the custody of the State Treasurer.  The Legislature may appropriate funds into the trust fund to be used only to match private cash donations.

The Washington International Exchange Scholarship Endowment Fund is established in the custody of the State Treasurer.  Private donations, other funds, and state matching funds from the trust fund are deposited into the endowment fund.  Only the earnings from the endowment fund are used to provide scholarships to international students.  International students selected for scholarships are limited by the amount of interest received from the endowment fund. 

International Students Internships

The Higher Education Coordinating Board must establish an advisory board to help in the design and criteria for an International Students Internship program.  The internship program is designed to give Washington State students the opportunity to study and earn degree credit in a country identified as a targeted trading partner.  Legislative recommendations on program design and criteria must be made by December 31, 1996.  The advisory committee expires December 1, 1996.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 6, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  International educational exchanges are a benefit to the nation and state.  Having international students in our colleges and universities allow us to better understand other cultures.  Washington's students also benefit from the education they receive in other countries.  This bill would set up the mechanism to continue planning for international student exchanges.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Ken Jacobsen (Pro); Ralph Munro, Secretary of State (Pro); Burton Bard, American Cultural Exchange (Pro); and Ron Crossland, State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (Pro).