BILL REQ. #:  S-1352.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/07/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to increased tuition fees for excess credits taken at institutions of higher education; and adding new sections to chapter 28B.15 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) For the purposes of this section, "cost of instruction" means the average instructional support in state general funds and operating fees per full-time equivalent undergraduate, at each respective institution for the prior academic year, as disclosed by the higher education coordinating board under RCW 28B.10.044.
     (2)(a) For resident undergraduate students who have accumulated more than one hundred twenty percent of the number of credits required to complete their respective baccalaureate degree at a state university, regional university, or The Evergreen State College, tuition fees shall equal a sum not less than the cost of instruction.
     (b) For resident undergraduate students who have accumulated more than one hundred fifty percent of the number of credits required to complete their respective associate degree or certificate programs at a state community or technical college, tuition fees shall equal a sum not less than the cost of instruction.
     (3)(a) For nonresident undergraduate students who have accumulated more than one hundred twenty percent of the number of credits required to complete their respective baccalaureate degree at a state university, regional university, or The Evergreen State College, tuition fees shall equal a sum not less than twice the cost of instruction.
     (b) For nonresident undergraduate students who have accumulated more than one hundred fifty percent of the number of credits required to complete their respective associate degree or certificate programs at a state community or technical college, tuition fees shall equal a sum not less than twice the cost of instruction.
     (4) The following exceptions apply to subsections (2) and (3) of this section:
     (a) Credits earned at private institutions of higher education in the state of Washington, at public or private institutions of higher education in other states, or through advanced placement programs shall not be applied to the total accumulated for the purposes of this section;
     (b) For former community college students who transfer, credits earned at a community college that are in excess of the credits necessary to complete an associate degree shall not be applied to the baccalaureate total;
     (c) This section shall not apply to any dislocated worker as defined by RCW 50.04.075 or to any person engaging in a job training program under the purview of the work force training and education coordinating board;
     (d) This section shall not apply to students who are enrolled in institutionally established double-degree programs;
     (e) This section shall not apply to students participating in the border county higher education opportunity project under RCW 28B.80.806;
     (f) This section shall not apply to certificated teachers of the K-12 school system who are pursuing continuing education credits according to certification requirements;
     (g) This section shall not apply to students who have not been enrolled in an institution of higher education during the preceding five or more years.
     (4) Students who believe they are under extraordinary or unforeseen academic or personal circumstances or were unable to complete their baccalaureate degree program within the number of credits specified due to institutional constraints may petition the institution for a special waiver from the tuition provision of subsections (2) and (3) of this section. The governing board of each institution shall create a process through which student petitions may be fairly processed, heard, and determined. The process shall include a fifty-dollar administrative fee that is refundable for those students who make a successful appeal.
     (5) For students unable to enroll in a class required for the student's major due to the sequencing of courses, the institution must waive tuition and fees until the student is able to enroll in the required course.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:
     The general fund--state appropriation may not be reduced by the amount of operating fees revenue collected as a result of section 1 of this act.