SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2089

As of March 28, 2003

Title: An act relating to tuition waivers at institutions of higher education.

Brief Description: Changing veterans' tuition waiver provisions.

Sponsors: House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives McCoy, Wallace, Morrell, Kenney and Miloscia).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 3/31/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff: Dario de la Rosa (786-7484)

Background: The governing boards of the state's public higher education institutions currently may exempt veterans of the Vietnam conflict from any increase in student tuition or fees. The veterans shall not be required to pay more than the total amount of tuition and fees paid by students on October 1, 1977. To qualify for the exemption, the veteran must be a resident student and must have served in Southeast Asia during the time period between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975. Similar tuition exemptions exist for veterans who served in the Persian Gulf combat zone during 1991, and for children of veterans listed as missing in action or as prisoners of war.

Summary of Bill: A comprehensive veterans' tuition waiver chapter is created. Existing permissive and variable waivers are expanded to include children and spouses of veterans killed or disabled in action or listed as missing in action.

Veterans eligible for tuition waivers are those who are domiciled in Washington, served as members of the United States military forces or National Guard called to active duty, and who served in a war or conflict on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or international waters. Institutions may waive all or a portion of tuition and fee increases that occur during the academic years in which an eligible veteran or National Guard member is engaged in active service, if the veteran could have qualified as a resident student for tuition purposes had he or she been enrolled in school.

Institutions must provide enrolled students who are unable to complete a semester or quarter because they are activated to federal military service with the option of a full tuition refund or attendance at no charge for a comparable academic term upon re-enrollment.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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