Title: An act relating to the national guard conditional scholarship.

Brief Description: Regarding the national guard conditional scholarship.

Sponsors: Senators Schmidt, McAuliffe and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 2/1/06 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/14/06, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Rasmussen, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Shin.

Staff: Stephanie Yurcisin (786-7438)

Background: The Washington State National Guard Conditional Scholarship Program was created during the 1994 Legislative session. The program, which is administered by the Office of the Adjutant General of the state military department, allows eligible members of the National Guard to receive conditional scholarships to attend an institution of higher education in Washington. The student may attend any Washington public or private college or university accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Participants must repay the scholarship, with interest, unless they serve in the National Guard for one additional year for each year of scholarship received.

The federal Montgomery GI Bill, which was originally enacted in 1944, provides education benefits that may be used while on active duty or after separation from active duty and to members of the reserves or the National Guard. Eligibility criteria and educational benefits vary depending on the type and date of enlistment and on the nature of the educational program. For example, one of the programs, the Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve, may be available to members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses.

Summary of Bill: For the purposes of the National Guard Conditional Scholarship Program, the definition of an eligible student is expanded to include any student that attends an institution that is located in Washington that provides approved training under the Montgomery G.I. Bill. The Office of the Adjutant General of the state military department is authorized to adopt rules and guidelines including establishing a priority for eligible students attending an institution of higher education located in this state that is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This program is already in existence; the bill merely expands the places that a person who has been awarded a scholarship may use the funds to include, for example, trade schools and apprenticeship programs.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Dave Schmidt, prime sponsor.