SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2904

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, February 25, 2000

Title:  An act relating to the border county higher education opportunity pilot project.

Brief Description:  Expanding geographic eligibility for the border county higher education opportunity pilot project.

Sponsors:  Representatives Carlson and Kenney.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/23/2000, 2/25/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Sheahan, B. Sheldon and West.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background:  In 1999, the Border County Higher Education Opportunity Pilot Project was created.  Under the pilot project, residents of Oregon who have resided in Columbia, Multnomah, Clatsop or Washington counties for at least 90 days are eligible to pay resident tuition rates if they enroll in community college programs located in the Washington counties of Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum or Pacific.  Residents of the four Oregon counties that enroll in courses at the Vancouver branch of Washington State University for eight credits or less may do so at the resident tuition rates.  Participating Washington institutions are required to give priority program enrollment to Washington residents.

The pilot project is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB).  By November 30, 2001, the board shall report to the Governor and the Legislature the results of the pilot project and make recommendations on the extent to which the border county tuition policies should be revised or expanded.  For each participating institution, the HECB is required to analyze, by program, the impact of the pilot program on:  enrollment levels, distribution of students by residency, and enrollment capacity.

The Portland metropolitan area is comprised of three counties:  Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas.  Currently only Multnomah and Washington county residents are eligible for the resident tuition rate.

Summary of Bill:  The Border County Higher Education Opportunity Pilot Project is expanded to include residents of Clackamas County, Oregon.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  It is important to add Clackamas County to the pilot project as it is part of the Portland metropolitan area.  There are 148 Oregonians who have attended Clark College under this pilot project.  We want to recruit second language speakers for a joint program with WSU-Vancouver.  There is a large pool of Russian language speakers in Clackamas County.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Carlson, prime sponsor; Linda Calvert, Clark College, Director of Admissions.