HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2534

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to waiving operating fees for students registered in a program for doctor of pharmacy.

Brief Description:  Waiving operating fees for students registered for a doctor of pharmacy.

Sponsors:  Representatives Parlette, Carlson, Anderson, Wensman, Alexander and Doumit.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  1/27/98, 1/30/98 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Carlson, Chairman; Radcliff, Vice Chairman; Mason, Ranking Minority Member; Kenney, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Butler; Dunn; O'Brien; Sheahan and Van Luven.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

Background:  Governing boards at the state institutions of higher education charge and collect tuition from students registering at the institution for any quarter or semester.  Full-time students registered for more than 18 credit hours are charged an additional operating fee for each credit hour over 18.  Institutions may exempt all or a portion of the additional operating fee for students who are registered in a first professional program for medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, law or those registered exclusively in required courses in vocational preparatory programs.

Summary of Bill:  Institutions also may exempt the additional operating fee for doctor of pharmacy students enrolled for more than 18 credit hours.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 22, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  The current policy penalizes students who wish to expand their education by forcing them to choose between paying extra tuition fees or taking a course that will help with their careers.  Currently, students must pay $231 per credit for loads exceeding 18 credits.  Students will use this new law to expand their educational breadth and depth.  The pharmacy degree has changed.  At one time, a pharmacist only needed a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree.  Beginning this year students must earn a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Linda Evans Parlette, prime sponsor; and Wayne A. Kradjan Associate Dean, University of Washington School of Pharmacy.