COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Representative Don Carlson, Chair

BILL ANALYSIS

HB 2377

BACKGROUND:   Under current law, tuition rates are different for resident and nonresident students.  Before a person is entitled to pay resident tuition rates, he or she must have established and maintained a permanent home or Adomicile@ in the state for at least one year before starting college.  This permanent home must have been established for purposes other than paying resident tuition rates.  In order to show an institution that he or she has established a permanent home in Washington, a person may have to present evidence to the institution.  That evidence may include a Washington driver's license, voter registration card, rent receipts, car license, employment information, location of a checking account, and the like.  Under current residency laws, a distinction is made between persons who are financially independent, and those who are still dependent on their parents for financial support.  With some exceptions, a dependent student's status is based on the residency status of the student's parents or legal guardian.

With some exceptions, if a Washington resident moves out of state, he or she loses the right to pay resident tuition rates.  If the parents of a dependent student move out of state while the student is enrolled in college, the student may continue to pay resident tuition rates for as long as the student remains continuously enrolled in school, except during summer sessions.  If a student enrolls in a public college or university within six months of graduating from a Washington high school, he or she may pay resident tuition rates if his or her parents maintained Washington as their permanent residence for at least one year within the five year period when their child enrolls in a Washington college.  If a person moves out of state while he or she is a member of the civil or military service of the state or the country, the person does not automatically lose their domicile in Washington.  However, to pay resident tuition rates, the person must, within one year of discharge from the service, return to Washington with the intention to remain in the state as a state resident.

In 1994, the legislature amended the residency statutes to allow, spouses and dependents of military personnel to pay residency tuition.  The amendment did not specifically address payment of resident tuition by military personnel.

SUMMARY:  Independent students who establish a domicile in this state and purchase and reside in a residence are considered residents for the purpose of tuition.  A dependent student is considered a resident if a parent or legal guardian maintains a domicile in the state and purchases and resides in a residence in the state.  Active duty military personnel stationed in the state and their spouses and dependents are considered residents for the purposes of tuition.

HB 2377                                                    Page 2