SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5229

               As Passed Senate, March 11, 1995

Title:  An act relating to tuition for ferry employees.

Brief Description:  Authorizing tuition waivers for ferry employees.

Sponsors:  Senators Owen, Prince and Haugen; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  1/26/95, 2/6/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/11/95, 35-13.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Bauer, Chair; Kohl, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, McAuliffe, Prince, West and Wood.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background: A number of space-available waivers have been established, including full tuition and fee waivers, to residents over the age of 60 registering for not more than two courses.  This is extended to all full-time employees of institutions, as well as full-time Washington State University Extension Service and Agricultural Research employees; to long-term unemployed and underemployed for attendance in community colleges; and to classified state employees.  Students enrolled in space-available courses may be charged a nominal fee for administrative costs.  In 1992, the Legislature made all tuition waiver and exemption programs permissive and variable.

Summary of Bill:  State colleges and universities are permitted to waive tuition and fees for eligible state employees, including ferry employees.  These employees must enroll at the institution on a space-available basis and must pay a registration fee of $5.  No new course sections may be created as a result of their enrollment.  Participating employees are not included in official enrollment reports and the institutions do not receive any state funding for them. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 16, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  It is an equity issue.  For the rare space available slots, treat ferry employees like those employees who are currently covered.  In the environment of  local tuition accounts and permissive waivers, the granting of waivers is a difficult decision-making process.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Terry McCarty, Deputy Director, Washington State Ferries (pro); Scott Morgan, Director of Financial Services, SBCTC.