HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2061

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to higher education, but only with respect to tuition and fees at community colleges and residency requirements.

Brief Description:  Changing community college provisions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Kenney, Dunn, Lantz, Veloria and Carlson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  2/24/99, 2/26/99 [DPS].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$The Higher Education Coordinating Board will convene a committee to study residency requirements for out-of-state tuition.

$Eliminates the two-credit minimum tuition and fee requirement at the community colleges.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Carlson, Republican Co-Chair; Kenney, Democratic Co-Chair; Lantz, Democratic Vice Chair; Radcliff, Republican Vice Chair; Dunn; Edmonds; Esser and Gombosky.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

Background:

The definitions for resident and nonresident students are created in statute.  Resident students who are dependent must prove that their parents have maintained a domicile in Washington for at least one year prior to the student's enrollment.  The independent student must prove their domicile in Washington for one year prior to enrollment.  Some students who meet special circumstances outlined in statute are granted exemptions from these residency requirements.

Under current statutes, students who enroll for fewer than two credits are charged the tuition and services and activities fee for two credits.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will convene a committee to study residency requirements.  The committee will consist of representatives from the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, the Office of Financial Management, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the four-year institutions of higher education.

The committee will study the impact of current residency requirements on economic development and how the residency requirements should be applied to distance learning.  A final report shall be provided to the higher education committees by December 1, 1999.

The two credit minimum tuition and fee requirement is eliminated for community college students.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

Clarifies that the Higher Education Coordinating Board will convene the committee to review residency requirements.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on original bill February 16, 1999.

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

Testimony For:  We have discussed this issue for a long time.  We need to study the issue.  The two credit minimum is a fairness issue.  Colleges are modulizing programs so working people may upgrade their skills.  People need an opportunity to upgrade their skills in courses that are less than two credits.  People who transfer to this state and show their intent to establish a residency here should be able to take courses in community colleges.  A one year domicile requirement does not make sense for employees who are transferred here, buy a home, pay taxes and register to vote in Washington.  Many people who transfer to this area want their children or spouse to take classes.  Employers also want their new hires to have access to courses in the community colleges.  We need to remove barriers to people taking classes at community colleges.

Testimony Against: None

Testified:  Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Jan Yoshiwara, State Board of Community and Technical Colleges; Jill Wakefield, South Seattle Community Colleges; George Smith, Edmonds Community College; and Ronald Merchant, Washington Education Association.