SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1109

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Higher Education, March 31, 1997

Title:  An act relating to authorizing the higher education coordinating board to conduct pilot programs in alternative tuition setting for distance education, packaging tuition and fees, and enrollment agreements with other states.

Brief Description:  Requiring the higher education coordinating board to develop models for the delivery of technology‑based programs.

Sponsors:  Representatives Carlson, Radcliff, O'Brien, Kenney, Mason, Dunn, Kessler and Quall; by request of Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  3/20/97, 3/31/97 [DPA-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Wood, Chair; Winsley, Vice Chair; Bauer, Hale, Kohl, Patterson, Prince and Sheldon.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background:  The Higher Education Coordinating Board's 1996 Master Plan for Higher Education projects that Washington's system of higher education needs to provide opportunities for at least 84,000 additional full-time equivalent students by the year 2010.  By adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 8428, the Legislature accepted the plan and requested that the board review solutions to the enrollment challenge.

Specifically, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8428 requested that the Higher Education Coordinating Board make recommendations on a Astate educational technology plan.@  In response, the board met with institutions and representatives of the K-12 system to discuss and develop strategies that will help integrate technology, and support collaborative activities. 

Summary of Amended Bill:  The board must establish tuition and state support models for technology-based programs, including recommending the level of tuition and state support for the Western Governor's Virtual University.  Additionally, the board must develop incentive models to encourage Washington students to participate in enrollment agreements with other states.  The board must propose a model for packaging tuition, fees, and living expenses to cover a four-year period.  The board is to study the tuition promise model proposed to the 1997 Legislature by SB 5833.  The board is required to report to the Legislature by December 30, 1997.

The board is to authorize at least two community colleges and two four-year public institutions to carry out a two-year pilot project allowing out-of-state students enrolled in an approved program delivered by distance learning technology to pay a negotiated tuition rate no less than Washington resident rates.  Institutions may count these enrollments so long as there is a balance of one FTE student per one FTE student within the reciprocity agreements.  These students are considered residents for tuition paying purposes but are not eligible for Washington state-funded financial aid.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  An actual distance learning pilot project is authorized to gather data for determining the viability of such programs.  The board is to look at a specific four-year tuition plan.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  As the state looks toward providing significantly more access to higher education, it is imperative to look at alternative models.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rep. Don Carlson, prime sponsor; Susan Patrick, HECB.