FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2386

C 186 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Classifying members of the Washington national guard and certain of their spouses and dependents as resident students.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Simpson, Schmidt, Hurst, Benson, Haigh, Barlean, Conway, Bush, Delvin, Miloscia, Linville, Campbell, Talcott, Lovick, Dunn, Esser and Jackley.

House Committee on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Background:

Some Washington National Guard personnel live in the neighboring states of Oregon and Idaho at the same time they are serving in Washington National Guard.  Persons serving in the Washington National Guard who live outside of Washington are required to pay out-of-state tuition if they attend a school in Washington.  The only military personnel who are exempted from the one-year residency requirement for in-state tuition are active duty military personnel stationed in Washington.  Their spouses and dependents may also quality for in-state tuition.

The Washington Air National Guard has 92 members who reside in Idaho due to their civilian employment.  The Washington National Guard offers them the opportunity to work in areas that may not be available in the Idaho Guard such as flying large cargo planes or re-fueling jets.  According to the Washington National Guard, some guard members are interested in attending school in the Spokane and Pullman area but are deterred from doing so due to having to pay the out-of-state tuition rates.  There are 22 national guard members who reside in Oregon.

There are a number of reasons we why people who are in the Army or Air National Guard in Washington and reside elsewhere.  Some National Guard members may have started their career with Washington and wish to stay in their respective unit and continue the job they are qualified for (and then they subsequently move to a neighboring state for their civilian employment).  An example is a member moving from Washington to Portland, Oregon, due to civilian employment.

Also, the National Guard units in neighboring states may not be as conveniently located where the individual resides.  For example, a member lives in Portland and the nearest unit for their occupational specialty is either in Burn, Oregon, or Vancouver, Washington.  The Washington unit would be closer for them for weekend training and commuting.  In addition, the Washington State National Guard offers opportunities that are not available in the other states such as the ability to use their expertise as pilots and fly for the Washington Air National Guard out of the Spokane unit.

Under the Border County Pilot Project enacted by the 1999 Legislature and modified by the 2001 Legislature, residents in several Oregon counties located near the border of Washington are eligible until June 30, 2002, to pay resident tuition at Clark College, Lower Columbia Community College, Grays Harbor Community College, and at the Washington State University branch campus in Vancouver.

Summary:

A member of the Washington National Guard qualifies for in-state tuition rates without meeting the one-year residency requirement.   A Washington National Guard member=s spouse or dependent must reside within the state to qualify for in-state tuition rates.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate440(Senate amended)

House931(House concurred)

Effective:  June 13, 2002

       June 30, 2002 (Section 2)