S-3875.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6312

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senators Bauer, Oke, Kohl, Rasmussen, Sutherland, Snyder, Heavey, Goings and Sheldon

Read first time 01/11/96.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

Changing the tuition exemption for veterans of the Persian Gulf combat zone.

    AN ACT Relating to tuition exemptions for veterans; amending RCW 28B.15.628; amending 1994 c 208 s 4 (uncodified); and providing an expiration date.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28B.15.628 and 1994 c 208 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The legislature finds that military and naval veterans who have served their country in wars on foreign soil have risked their own lives to defend both the lives of all Americans and the freedoms that define and distinguish our nation.  It is the intent of the legislature to honor Persian Gulf combat zone veterans for the public service they have provided to their country.  It is the further intent of the legislature that, for eligible Persian Gulf combat zone veterans, institutions of higher education waive tuition and fee increases that have occurred after the 1990-91 academic year.

(2) 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 may exempt veterans of the Persian Gulf combat zone from all or a portion of increases in tuition and fees that occur after the 1990‑91 academic year, if((:

    (a))) the veteran ((could have qualified)) qualifies as a ((Washington)) resident student under RCW 28B.15.012(2)((, had he or she been enrolled as a student on August 1, 1990;

    (b) The veteran is enrolled for seven or more quarter credits per academic term or their equivalent, except summer term and not including community service courses; and

    (c) The veteran's adjusted gross family income as most recently reported to the internal revenue service does not exceed Washington state's median family income as established by the federal bureau of the census)).

(3) For the purposes of this section, "a veteran of the Persian Gulf combat zone" means a person who ((during any portion of calendar year 1991, served in active federal service as a member of the armed military or naval forces of the United States in a combat zone as designated by the president of the United States by executive order)) served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during any portion of the 1991 calendar year in the Persian Gulf combat zone as designated by executive order of the president of the United States.

(4) This section expires June 30, 1999.

    Sec. 2.  1994 c 208 s 4 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

    Section((s)) 13 ((and 14)) of this act shall expire on June 30, 1997.

                            --- END ---