HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5189


 

 

 




As Passed House:

April 17, 2003

 

Title: An act relating to tuition and fees charged at institutions of higher education to military and naval veterans of the Korean conflict.

 

Brief Description: Waiving tuition and fees for veterans of the Korean conflict.

 

Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Benton, Swecker, Kohl-Welles, Shin, Stevens, Oke, Roach and Winsley).


Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Higher Education: 3/25/03, 4/4/03 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/17/03, 98-0.

 

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

    Creates a permissive space-available tuition waiver for veterans of the Korean conflict.



 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION


Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Kenney, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Cox, Ranking Minority Member; Priest, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Boldt, Buck, Chase, Clements, Condotta, Gombosky, Jarrett, Lantz, McCoy and Morrell.

 

Staff: Sydney Forrester (786-7120).

 

Background:

 

Institutions have authority to waive all or a portion of the tuition operating fee for any student for any reason, and to waive all or a portion of tuition and fees on a space available basis for certain students (state employees, members of the Washington National Guard, persons age 60 and over, and long-term unemployed or underemployed persons). For these discretionary and space-available waivers, the institutions receive no state funding to offset foregone tuition revenue.

 

In addition to discretionary and space-available waivers, institutions may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for eligible students, and may receive general fund support to offset the tuition not collected from students as a result of granting the waivers. State-supported waiver authority is capped for each institution at a certain percentage of the total tuition revenue the institution collects, and each institution decides how to apportion its waiver authority among the various eligible categories.

 

In addition four-year institutions may waive all or a portion of tuition for a veteran enrolled on or prior to October 1977 if he/she no longer is eligible for federal educational or vocational benefits. For purposes of the waiver, a "veteran" includes individuals honorably discharged who served during the Korean conflict. The Higher Education Coordinating Board reports no veterans currently are receiving a waiver under this category, probably because no one qualifies.

 

 


 

 

Summary of Bill:

 

Certain legislative findings are made regarding military and naval veterans and a legislative intent is stated to honor veterans of the Korean conflict. Space-available waiver authority is granted to the state and regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community and technical colleges to waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for veterans of the Korean conflict. No new courses may be created and students are not included in official enrollment figures affecting budgetary determinations. A registration fee of not less than five dollars must be charged. For purposes of the waiver, a "veteran of the Korean conflict" means anyone who served on active duty in the armed forces during any portion of the period June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955.

 


 

 

Appropriation: None.

 

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

 

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

 

Testimony For: This bill would honor the veterans who served their country during the Korean conflict. Particularly now as we face troubled times, we should remember these individuals with respect.

 

Testimony Against: None.

 

Testified: (In support) Senator Shin, prime sponsor.