SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5647

               As Passed Senate, March 14, 1997

Title:  An act relating to building fee payments by community and technical colleges.

Brief Description:  Requiring only collected building fees of community and technical colleges to be paid to the state treasury.

Sponsors:  Senators Wood, Snyder, Swecker, Bauer, Zarelli, Winsley and Kohl; by request of State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/24/97, 2/26/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/14/97, 44-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Jennifer Hanlon (786-7784)

Background:  In Washington, tuition fees for students attending most public colleges and universities are made up of two components:  building fees and operating fees.  Building fees provide part of the funding for facility repairs, renovations, and construction.

Currently, the four-year institutions of higher education must contribute their building fees to the state treasury within 35 days from the collection of those fees.  The two-year institutions must contribute their building fees to the state treasury within 35 days from the start of each quarter.

Summary of Bill:  Within 35 days from the beginning of each quarter, all collected building fees from the community and technical colleges must be paid to the state treasury.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is an audit issue.  The institutions are required to remit money that they have not collected. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Scott Morgan, SBCTC.