SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5653

As Passed Senate, March 12, 2003

Title: An act relating to residency for purposes of attending Washington public schools.

Brief Description: Expanding "residency" for purposes of attending Washington public schools.

Sponsors: Senators Sheahan and Brown.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Education: 3/4/03, 3/5/03 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/12/03, 47-2.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Johnson, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Carlson, Finkbeiner, Rasmussen and Schmidt.

Staff: Heather Lewis-Lechner (786-7448)

Background: Any child who is of school age and is living within the state of Washington may attend the state's public schools without paying tuition. This includes children who are living on military reservations, national parks, American Indian reservations, or national forest lands.

Children who live in a bordering state may pay tuition and attend a Washington public school if the laws of their home state permit its school districts to enroll children from Washington. Such enrollment is limited to the Washington school district that borders the out-of-state child's school district. The tuition paid by the out-of-state child must equal the cost to the district of educating the child. The school district does not receive any state or federal funds for these students.

Summary of Bill: Any child who is of school age and lives in a home that is located in Idaho, but has a Washington address for the purposes of the United States postal service, may attend a school in the nearest Washington school district without paying tuition. The child is considered a resident student for state funding purposes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: No one.

House Amendment(s): An expiration date of July 1, 2006, is added.