SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6558

As of January 27, 2004

Title: An act relating to increasing the operating fee waiver authority for Central Washington University.

Brief Description: Increasing the operating fee waiver authority for Central Washington University.

Sponsors: Senators Mulliken, Shin, Deccio, Winsley and Kohl-Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 2/5/04.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff: Jean Six (786-7423)

Background: Public baccalaureate institutions and community colleges may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees through approximately 35 different tuition waiver programs. There is a statutory maximum on the amount of operating fee revenue that each baccalaureate institution and the community colleges as a whole may waive. The waiver cap ranges from a high of 35 percent for the community colleges to a low of 6 percent for The Evergreen State College.

Most waiver programs are designed to help a student with particular circumstances. For example, waivers are permitted for needy students, teaching and research assistants working half-time or more, the children of deceased and disabled firefighters and law-enforcement individuals, and a stipulated number of international students, to name a few. All waiver authority is subject to the existing statutory waiver cap in effect for each institution. Within these limits, two additional limits exist: 1 percent may be waived to help achieve gender equity in intercollegiate athletics, and 2 percent may be waived at the discretion of the institution for any purpose.

Washington's public higher education institutions retain tuition revenue as local non-appropriated accounts. The process by which institutions choose to participate in waiver programs, and the waivers actually distributed, varies by institution.

Summary of Bill: Central Washington University's authority to offer operating fee waivers is increased from 8 percent to 11 percent.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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