FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 6010

                          C 152 L 00

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating operating fees waivers not supported by state general fund appropriations.

Sponsors:  Senators West, Jacobsen and Sheahan.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  Washington institutions of higher education are authorized to waive all or a portion of students= tuition, up to a limit specified in statute.  The amount of waived tuition, up to the fixed limit, will be reimbursed by the state general fund.

RCW 28B.15.910 lists the maximum percentage of total tuition revenue that may be waived for each public four-year institution and the community college system as a whole.  Tuition that is waived up to these limits is reimbursed to the institutions from the state general fund. The following list outlines the maximum percentage of tuition that may be waived:  University of Washington, 21 percent; Washington State University, 20 percent; Eastern Washington University, 11 percent; Western Washington University, 10 percent; Central Washington University, 8 percent; The Evergreen State College, 6 percent; the community colleges as a whole, 35 percent.

The recipients of these waivers are listed in statute, and include but are not limited to selected veterans and military employees, unemployed or underemployed persons, students demonstrating need, resident graduate service appointments, and residents of states with reciprocity agreements with Washington.

Summary:  Institutions may offer additional waivers for any student.  The authority to waive a portion or all of tuition for students above the established limits is created.  There is no state general fund support for these additional waivers.

Waivers granted by a community college or a technical college will be in accordance with state board policy.  The institutions must prepare a report on the costs and benefits of waivers granted under this act and submit it to the Legislature every two years.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 470

House980(House amended)

Senate 450(Senate concurred)

Effective:June 8, 2000