HB 1706

Brief Description: Expanding resident student eligibility for purposes of the state need grant program.

Sponsors: Representatives Quall, Kenney, Hunter, Sullivan, Upthegrove, Santos, Pettigrew, Dunshee and Hasegawa.

Hearing Date: 2/11/09

Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195)

Background:

Resident Student. Classification as a "resident student" qualifies an individual to pay in-state tuition rates. There are several categories of "resident student" including the following:

1. A financially independent student who has established a domicile in the state of Washington for one year immediately prior to the first day of class for which the student has registered and has established such domicile in this state for purposes other than educational;

2. A dependent student whose parent or parents have maintained a domicile in Washington for one year prior to the start of class;

3. A student who has spent at least 75 percent of his or her junior and senior years in a Washington high school and whose parents maintained a domicile in Washington for at least one year in the five-year period preceding the student's enrollment, and who enrolls in college within six months of leaving high school;

4. A student classified as a resident on or before May 31, 1982, who was enrolled at a state institution during any term of the 1982-83 academic year, and whose enrollment at an institution in this state is continuous; or

5. Any person who has:

   • completed his or her full senior year and obtained a diploma at a Washington public or approved private high school or received the equivalent of a diploma;

   • lived in Washington for at least three years immediately prior to receiving the diploma or its equivalent;

   • continuously lived in the state after receiving the diploma or its equivalent and until being admitted to the institution of higher education; and

   • provided to the institution an affidavit indicating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so and a willingness to engage in any other activities necessary to acquire citizenship, including but not limited to citizenship or civics review courses.

Resident Tuition and Fees. Full-time, resident tuition and fee rates in 2007-08 were as follows:

• University of Washington $6280

• Washington State University $6290

• Central Washington University $4611

• Eastern Washington University $4485

• Western Washington University $4619

• The Evergreen State College $4590

• Community and Technical Colleges $2677

State Need Grant. The state need grant is a need-based grant for up to five years of study for low-income undergraduates whose current income is 70 percent or less of median family income. In 2007-08, there was $182 million in funding available and an estimated 72,000 recipients. The state need grant is available only to students who are "resident students" as defined in the first four categories above.

Summary of Bill:

Eligibility for the state need grant is expanded to include any person who has:

• completed his or her full senior year and obtained a diploma at a Washington public or approved private high school or received the equivalent of a diploma;

• lived in Washington for at least three years immediately prior to receiving the diploma or its equivalent;

• continuously lived in the state after receiving the diploma or its equivalent and until being admitted to the institution of higher education; and

• provided to the institution an affidavit indicating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so and a willingness to engage in any other activities necessary to acquire citizenship, including but not limited to citizenship or civics review courses.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 10, 2009.

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