SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6298

              As Passed Senate, February 11, 2000

Title:  An act relating to educational opportunities for employees of school districts and educational service districts.

Brief Description:  Providing a space‑available tuition waiver at public institutions of higher education for certain educational employees.

Sponsors:  Senators Kohl‑Welles, McAuliffe, Sheahan, Shin, B. Sheldon, Bauer, Winsley and Kline.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  1/21/2000, 1/26/2000 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate, 2/11/2000, 30-10.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Horn.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background:  State employees may attend public colleges and universities on a space available basis under a tuition and fee waiver program.  These students do not affect enrollment reports or budgetary determinations.  Currently, neither classified employees nor certificated instructional staff employees of school  districts or educational service districts are eligible to benefit from space-available waivers.

Summary of Bill:  Permanent certificated instructional staff and permanent classified employees of school districts and educational service districts are added to the definition of eligible state employees who may attend state colleges and universities using space-available waivers.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The space available waiver program provides an opportunity for classified staff to enter the teaching profession.  The K-12 community is very supportive especially for the classified positions.  We will appreciate any opportunity that space available waivers will allow.  It is an equity issue.  Classified employees of the K-12 system ought to have the same higher education access that other state employees are afforded.

A question to consider:  AWill distance education change the definition of space available?@

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Mike Boring, WASA; Rainer Houser, AWSP; Dan Steele, WSDA; Kye Hillig, PSE; Glenn Gorton, PSE; Karen Davis, WEA.