HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESSB 5743

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to improving the community and technical colleges' contributions to economic development in the state of Washington.

Brief Description:  Improving community and technical colleges' contributions to economic development.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Sheahan, Oke and Hale; by request of State Board for Community and Technical Colleges).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  3/23/99, 3/30/99 [DPA].

      Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

            (As Amended by House Committee)

$Eliminates the two-credit minimum tuition and fee requirement for community college students.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  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 Amended Bill:

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

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:   The requirement for a residency study is deleted and only community college students are eliminated from the two-credit minimum tuition and fee requirement.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The two-credit minimum is no longer appropriate.  We need more flexibility and local businesses need short-term courses.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Cindy Hough, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.