AN ACT
Relating to the Washington scholars program; amending RCW 28A.600.130,
28B.15.543, 28B.80.245, and 28B.80.246; creating a new section; 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.
(5)
As used in this section, "public college or university" means an
institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.
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.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If
specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill
number, is not provided by June 30, 1995, in the omnibus appropriations act,
this act is null and void.
