BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to the Washington scholars program; amending RCW 28A.600.130, 28B.15.543, 28B.80.245, and 28B.80.246; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.600.130 and 1990 c 33 s 500 are each amended to read as follows:

The higher education coordinating board shall establish a planning committee to develop criteria for screening and selection of the Washington scholars each year in accordance with RCW 28A.600.110(1). It is the intent that these criteria shall emphasize scholastic achievement but not exclude such criteria as leadership ability and community contribution in final selection procedures. The Washington scholars planning committee shall have members from selected state agencies and private organizations having an interest and responsibility in education, including but not limited to, the state board of education, the office of superintendent of public instruction, the council of presidents, the state board for community ((~~college education~~)) and technical colleges, and the Washington friends of higher education.

Sec. 2. RCW 28B.15.543 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges shall waive tuition and service and activities fees for students named by the higher education coordinating board on or before June 30, 1994, as recipients of the Washington scholars award under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 ((who received their awards before June 30, 1994. The governing boards may waive all or a portion of tuition and services and activities fees for those recipients of the Washington scholars award who received their awards after June 30, 1994)). The waivers shall be used only for undergraduate studies. To qualify for the waiver, recipients shall enter the college or university within three years of high school graduation and maintain a minimum grade point average at the college or university equivalent to 3.30. Students shall be eligible ((~~for waivers for~~)) to receive a maximum of twelve quarters or eight semesters of waivers and may transfer among state-supported institutions of higher education during that period and continue to have the tuition and services and activities fees waived by the state-supported institution of higher education that the student attends. Should the student's cumulative grade point average fall below 3.30 during the first three quarters or two semesters, that student may petition the higher education coordinating board which shall have the authority to establish a probationary period until such time as the student's grade point average meets required standards.

(2) Students named by the higher education coordinating board after June 30, 1994, as recipients of the Washington scholars award under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 shall be eligible to receive a grant for undergraduate coursework as authorized under RCW 28B.80.245.

Sec. 3. RCW 28B.80.245 and 1990 c 33 s 560 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Recipients of the Washington scholars award under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 ((~~choosing~~)) who choose to attend an independent college or university in this state, as defined in subsection (4) of this section, and recipients of the award named after June 30, 1994, who choose to attend a public college or university in the state may receive grants under this section if moneys are available. The higher education coordinating board shall distribute grants to eligible students under this section from moneys appropriated for this purpose. The individual grants shall not exceed, on a yearly basis, the yearly, full-time, resident, undergraduate tuition and service and activities fees in effect at the state-funded research universities. Grants to recipients attending an independent institution shall be contingent upon the ((~~private~~)) institution matching on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis, either with actual money or by a waiver of fees, the amount of the grant received by the student from the state. The higher education coordinating board shall establish procedures, by rule, to disburse the awards as direct grants to the students.

(2) To qualify for the grant, recipients shall enter the ((~~independent~~)) in-state college or university within three years of high school graduation and maintain a minimum grade point average at the college or university equivalent to 3.30. Students shall be eligible ((~~for grants for~~)) to receive a maximum of twelve quarters or eight semesters of grants for undergraduate study and may transfer among in-state public and independent colleges and universities during that period and continue to receive the grant as provided under RCW 28B.80.246. If the student's cumulative grade point average falls below 3.30 during the first three quarters or two semesters, that student may petition the higher education coordinating board which shall have the authority to establish a probationary period until such time as the student's grade point average meets required standards.

(3) No grant shall be awarded to any student who is pursuing a degree in theology.

(4) As used in this section, "independent college or university" means a private, nonprofit educational institution, the main campus of which is permanently situated in the state, open to residents of the state, providing programs of education beyond the high school level leading at least to the baccalaureate degree, and accredited by the northwest association of schools and colleges as of June 9, 1988, and other institutions as may be developed that are approved by the higher education coordinating board as meeting equivalent standards as those institutions accredited under this section.

Sec. 4. RCW 28B.80.246 and 1988 c 210 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Students receiving grants under RCW 28B.80.245 or waivers under RCW 28B.15.543 ((~~shall be~~)) are entitled to transfer ((~~between~~)) among in-state public and independent colleges or universities and to continue to receive award benefits, as provided in this section, in the form of a grant or waiver of tuition and services and activities fees while enrolled at such institutions during the period of eligibility. ((Students transferring to a public institution of higher education from an independent college or university are entitled to a tuition waiver while enrolled at such institution during the period of eligibility under RCW 28B.15.543. Students transferring to an independent college or university from a public institution of higher education are entitled to a grant under RCW 28B.80.245 while enrolled at such college or university during the period of eligibility under RCW 28B.80.245.)) The total grants or waivers for any one student shall not exceed twelve quarters or eight semesters of undergraduate study.

(1) Scholars named to the award on or before June 30, 1994, may transfer between in-state public institutions, or from an eligible independent college or university to an in-state public institution of higher education, and are entitled to receive the waiver of tuition and services and activities fees.

(2) Scholars named to the award on or before June 30, 1994, may transfer from an in-state public institution to an eligible independent college or university, or between eligible independent colleges or universities, and continue to receive a grant contingent upon available funding.

(3) Scholars named to the award after June 30, 1994, may transfer among in-state public or private colleges and universities and continue to receive the grant contingent upon available funding.

(4) In addition, scholars who transfer to an eligible independent institution may receive the grant contingent upon the agreement of the school to match on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis, either with actual money or by a waiver of fees, the amount of the grant received by the student from the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995.