Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Higher Education Committee

PSHB 2330

Brief Description:  Providing for the expansion of the definition of resident tuition for the purpose of tuition at institutions of higher education.

Sponsors:  Representatives Kenney, Cox, Fromhold, Chase, Quall, Gombosky, Kessler, Lantz, Hurst, Jarrett and McIntire.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Expands the definition of "resident student" under the tuition statute.

Hearing Date:  1/25/02

Staff:  Sydney Forrester (786‑7120).

Background:

Federal law prohibits a state from offering a post-secondary education benefit to an alien not lawfully in the United States, unless a citizen student also is eligible for the same benefit, regardless of whether the citizen is a resident of that state or not.  

The Washington tuition statute contains a variety of criteria by which a student may qualify as a "resident student" based on: 1) domicile of the student; 2) domicile of the student=s parents or guardians; 3) the student=s status as dependent or financially independent; and 4) the student=s military duty status.  Certain other statutes rely on the definition of "resident student" in the tuition statute.

Summary of Bill:

Proposed substitute HB 2330 allows a person to qualify as a "resident student" if the student has:

(1)  graduated from high school in Washington or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Washington;

(2)  registered in a Washington institution of higher education;

(3)  lived in Washington for the period of one year immediately prior to the start of the first day of the semester or quarter for which the student has registered and has in fact established a bona fide domicile in this state primarily for purposes other than educational; and

  (4)  provided an affidavit to the institution stating the individual will file an application for legal residency in the United States.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on June 30, 2002.