SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2534

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, February 26, 1998

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:  2/24/98, 2/26/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

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:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is a request of the UW.  Students need the exemption in order to save them money.  The institutions will receive less tuition.  We, in the field, did not support the change to an entry level doctorate.  Students need flexibility for electives.  Other professional students are already exempt, so it is a matter of fairness.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rep. Linda Parlette, prime sponsor; Rod Shafer, WSPA; Jeff Rochton, UW student, School of Pharmacy; Sid Nelson, Dean, UW School of Pharmacy.