Brief Description: Regarding tuition limits and billing disclosures.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Schoesler, Shin, Berkey, Delvin, Murray and Kohl-Welles).

Senate Committee on Higher Education
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Higher Education
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: In 2005, the Legislature created a steering committee (Washington Learns) comprised of legislators, the Governor, and others, and three sector advisory committees on which legislators and others served. The steering and advisory committees were directed to conduct a comprehensive study of early learning, K-12, and higher education; to develop recommendations on how the state can best provide stable funding for early learning, public schools, and public colleges and universities; and to develop recommendations on specified policy issues. The steering committee submitted an interim and a final report with recommendations to the Legislature that included changes in tuition setting policy and funding of institutions of higher education to increase the state's global competitiveness.

Summary: Resident undergraduate tuition increases at each institution are limited to no more than 7 percent per year.

It is the goal of the state to increase funding at state colleges and universities, using state funds plus tuition combined, to at least the 60th percentile of comparable institutions in the Global Challenge States within ten years. The Office of Financial Management (OFM) reports on the progress made toward the state goal. In defining the 60th percentile goal, OFM controls for differences among the comparison institutions in cost-of-living, program and enrollment mix, and reporting and accounting practices. Decreasing student enrollment below 2007 budgeted levels is not allowed as a method of increasing per-student funding.

On billing statements to students, each institution must report the full cost of instruction, the amount collected from student tuition and fees, and the difference between the amounts for the full cost of instruction and student tuition and fees.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      96   1

Effective:   July 22, 2007