COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Representative Don Carlson, Chair

BILL ANALYSIS

HB 2036

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  Requiring registration for selective service.

BACKGROUND:  Under federal law, men between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register for the selective service.  They must register from 30 days before to 30 days after their 18th birthday.  Those who do not register are ineligible for federal jobs or federal student aid programs.  Because state and federal aid programs are closely intertwined, men in the 18 to 26 age group who have not registered with the Selective Service are not eligible to participate in the Need Grant Program.

SUMMARY:  Men between the ages of 18 and 26 cannot enroll in a public college or university unless they are registered with the federal Selective Service.  During college registration, each public college must ask men in the appropriate age group if they have registered with the Selective Service.  The institutions may require eligible men to sign a form for that purpose.  The institution must keep the form for one year and make the forms available to representatives of the Selective Service.  Institutions are not required to verify the information on the form.  Institutions may make Selective Service registration forms available to students.  Institutions may also reach agreements with the Selective Service regarding simpler ways to implement these requirements.