HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1497
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Higher Education
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: Representatives Wallace, Anderson, Sells, Hinkle, Roberts, Warnick, Buri, B. Sullivan, Priest, Hasegawa and Dunn.
Brief History:
Higher Education: 2/5/07, 2/21/07 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Wallace, Chair; Sells, Vice Chair; Anderson, Ranking Minority Member; Buri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hasegawa, McIntire and Sommers.
Staff: Andrew Colvin (786-7304).
Background:
The Legislature grants higher education institutions permission to waive all or a portion of
tuition for certain types of students and purposes. The various waivers fall into three broad
types: state supported, discretionary, and space available. For state supported waivers it is
assumed that state moneys in the institutions' budgets will offset the tuition not collected
from students to whom waivers are granted. For discretionary and space available waivers,
this offset is not assumed.
State supported waivers are capped at a certain percentage of the total operating fee revenue
the institution collects. Within its respective percentage caps, each institution decides how to
apportion its waiver authority among the various categories of state-supported waivers.
The caps for each of the institutions is as follows:
(1) University of Washington 21 percent
(2) Washington State University 20 percent
(3) Eastern Washington University 11 percent
(4) Central Washington University 8 percent
(5) Western Washington University 10 percent
(6) The Evergreen State College 6 percent
(7) Community Colleges as a whole 35 percent
The waiver caps were established in 1992 as a result of changes to the way tuition revenue is
treated. Prior to 1992, higher education institutions collected tuition and transferred that
revenue to the State General Fund. In 1992, legislation was enacted to allow institutions to
retain tuition revenues. At the same time, caps were established that set the maximum
percentage of total tuition that each institution may waive for the purposes of state supported
waivers. The amounts of the caps were based on the percentage of tuition revenue waived at
each institution in 1992. When transferring State General Fund tuition dollars, the state
provided funds to offset the tuition revenue forgone through waiver authority. This amount
has been part of carry-forward dollars for each institution since 1992.
Summary of Bill:
Increases the tuition waiver authority for Central Washington University from 8 percent to 10
percent.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Received.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2007.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill has been around for a long time. It is about equity, fairness,
affordability, and access. It will give Central Washington University (Central) equity with
peer institutions in the state. Central has traditionally used most of its state supported waiver
authority for needy students. Central does not have extra aid money to give without an
increase in its waiver authority. This bill will help increase diversity at Central, which has a
lower participation rate and a higher Hispanic student population than other state schools.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Warnick; Steve DuPont, Associated Students of Central Washington University; and Anthony Aronica, Central Washington University Board of Trustees.