SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6826

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, February 4, 2000

Title:  An act relating to branches of member institutions of accrediting associations recognized by rule of the higher education coordinating board.

Brief Description:  Allowing state financial aid to be used at Washington branch campuses of accredited out‑of‑state institutions of higher education.

Sponsors:  Senators Kohl‑Welles, Sheahan, Jacobsen, Finkbeiner and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/4/2000 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background:  Currently, students who attend a branch campus located in Washington of a postsecondary institution that is accredited in another state are not eligible for state financial aid.

Summary of Bill:  Discretionary power is given to the Higher Education Coordinating Board to allow students attending one of these branch campuses to be eligible for state financial aid including work study.  Such students must already be eligible for federal financial aid and the institution must have operated in Washington for ten years as a nonprofit entity.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 1, 2000.

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

Testimony For:  There are some technical problems.  The institutions will be those approved under the degree authorization act.  There are seven branches operating in the state and about 170 students would be eligible at an additional cost of $200,000.

We could administer the program and the HECB has no position for or against.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bruce Botka, HECB.