Brief Description: Promoting the growth of research in the science and technology fields.

Sponsors: Representatives Morris, Hudgins, Kilmer, McCoy, Linville, P. Sullivan, Wallace, Roberts, B. Sullivan, Morrell, Ericks, Upthegrove, Sells, O'Brien and Green.

Hearing Date: 1/20/06

Staff: Sarah Ream (786-7303).

Background:

Graduate Degrees Conferred in Math, Science and Engineering
According to the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), between 2000 and 2004, Washington's public and private higher education institutions awarded 4,083 bachelor's degrees, 831 master's degrees, and 299 doctorate degrees in math, science, or engineering.

Currently Existing State-funded Graduate Scholarship Programs
The Legislature has created a number of programs that award scholarships to graduate students attending Washington's colleges and universities. These programs match state funds with private donations. These programs include:

   The Warren G. Magnuson Institute for Biomedical Research and Health Professions Training (Institute)
   The Institute's primary purposes are to provide financial assistance to (1) individuals engaged in specific medial research, and (2) the University of Washington graduate and postgradaute students training in health professions. Funding for the Institute is provided through a combination of methods, including the earnings on an endowment created when state funds were doubly matched by private donations or federal funds.

   The Distinguished Professorship and Graduate Fellowship Programs
   These programs were established in 1986 to help Washington's four-year public universities and colleges recruit and retain outstanding professors and graduate students.

   Both programs provide state funds to match private donations raised by the institutions. The Distinguished Professorship Program provides state matching funds of $250,000 to schools that raise the same amount through private donations. The Graduate Fellowship Program provides state matching funds of $25,000. The state matching is dependent on the availability of funds for such purposes.

   American Indian Endowed Scholarship and Foster Care Endowed Scholarship
   These scholarships are available to undergraduate and graduate students who meet the criteria for the particular program. The American Indian Endowed Scholarship annually awards 15 scholarships ranging from $500 to $800 each. The Foster Care Endowed Scholarship provides scholarships based on student need and in an amount up to the amount received by a student attending a state research university.

Endowed Funds
The programs listed above use endowed funds. An endowment fund is a fund that provides a future income for an institution or person. Only the income, and not the principal, of the fund may be used.

Summary of Bill:

The Graduate Fellowship Trust Fund (GFTF) program for the sciences is established. Through the program, the Legislature intends to help public institutions of higher education fund fellowships for graduate students in the science fields. The fellowships will be funded from earnings on an endowment created by matching state money with an equal amount from private donors.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) will administer the program. The HECB's program responsibilities are described and include the adoption of:

• rules;
• an annual allocation system for monies in the trust fund;
• contracts with participating institutions and foundations;
• policies that maximize the distribution of state matching monies;
• a mechanism to reallocate unused funds; and
• periodic reports on the program.

The HECB will also request the release of state matching monies from the GFTF to qualifying institutions of higher education or foundations.

Public institutions of higher education or their foundations are eligible to participate in the program. Private schools, colleges, and their foundations are not eligible to receive the state matching funds.

Participating foundations of public institutions must meet a number of conditions. These include: tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code; existence solely for the benefit of one or more institutions of higher education in Washington; and registration with the Attorney General under the Charitable Trust Act. In addition, foundations must enter a contract with the HECB.

The GFTF for the sciences is created and will be administered by the state treasurer. State appropriations for the program will be deposited in the trust fund. At the request of the HECB, money in the trust fund will be released to the local endowment funds created by participating institutions or foundations. The HECB may request the release of state money when participating entities receive $25,000 in cash from private donors.

Once an institution of higher education or foundation receives the private donation and state matching monies, it will deposit both in an endowment fund. The income from the fund may be used for graduate fellowships for graduate students in the sciences. The principal of the fund cannot be spent. The fellowship stipends may be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, subsistence, research and other educationally related costs.

The school or foundation is responsible for:

• defining who is eligible to receive the stipends and selecting the recipients;
• soliciting private donations;
• investing and maintaining the money in the endowment fund;
• administering the fellowship; and
• reporting on the program to the HECB.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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