BILL REQ. #:  S-4426.1 

Read first time 01/19/2006.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to tuition waivers for veterans and national guard members; and amending RCW 28B.15.621.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.15.621 and 2005 c 249 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that active military and naval veterans, reserve military and naval veterans, and national guard members called to active duty have served their country and have risked their lives to defend the lives of all Americans and the freedoms that define and distinguish our nation. The legislature intends to honor active military and naval veterans, reserve military and naval veterans, and national guard members who have served on active military or naval duty for the public service they have provided to this country.
     (2) Subject to the limitations in RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for the following persons:
     (a) An eligible veteran or national guard member;
     (b) A child and the spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member who became totally disabled as defined in RCW 28B.15.385 while engaged in active federal military or naval service, or who is determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing in action;
     (c) A child and the surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member who lost his or her life while engaged in active federal military or naval service. However, upon remarriage, the surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member is ineligible for a waiver under this section.
     (3) The governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for a military or naval veteran who is a Washington domiciliary, but who did not serve on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters and who does not qualify as an eligible veteran or national guard member under subsection (5) of this section. However, there shall be no state general fund support for waivers granted under this subsection.
     (4) Private vocational schools and private higher education institutions are encouraged to provide waivers consistent with the terms in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.
     (5) As used in this section "eligible veteran or national guard member" means a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a past or current national guard member called to active duty, who served or serves, as applicable, in active federal service, under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge.