SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5044

As of February 3, 2009

Title: An act relating to the state work-study program.

Brief Description: Changing work-study provisions.

Sponsors: Senators Kilmer, Berkey, Kastama, Schoesler, Marr, Shin, Rockefeller, Eide, Jarrett, Keiser, Tom and Kohl-Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/03/09.

Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

Background: State work-study was created by the Legislature in 1974. It was designed as a broad access program providing work experiences to needy students. Students are able to reduce their debt burden while they strengthen their resumes, explore careers, and gain work experience. Washington businesses potentially benefit by being able to preview potential future employees at a reduced labor cost (35 percent of wages). The state work-study program forecasting model projects that 9,549 students will use state work-study during the 2008-09 academic year. For the purposes of state work-study, a "needy student" is a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a post-secondary institution who, according to a system of need analysis approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, demonstrates a financial inability to bear the total cost of education for any semester or quarter. Needy students who are Washington residents, who are former foster youth, who are using their work-study in fields related to their academic and vocational pursuits, and who are seeking off-campus community service placements, are given priority to receive state work-study.

A "resident student" is: (a) an independent student who has had a domicile in Washington for a period of one year and has established a bona fide domicile in Washington primarily for purposes other than educational; (b) a dependent student, if one or both of the student's parents or legal guardians have maintained a bona fide domicile in Washington for at least one year; (c) any student who has spent at least 75 percent of both junior and senior years in high schools in this state, whose parents or legal guardians have been domiciled in Washington for a period of at least one year within the five-year period before the student graduates from high school, and who enrolls in a public institution of higher education within six months of leaving high school; (d) any person who has completed the full senior year of high school and obtained a high school diploma, both at a Washington public high school or private high school, or a person who has received the equivalent of a diploma; who has lived in Washington for at least three years immediately prior to receiving the diploma or its equivalent; who has continuously lived in the state of Washington after receiving the diploma or its equivalent and who provides 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; (e) a student who is on active military duty stationed in the state or who is a member of the Washington National Guard; (f) a student who is the spouse or a dependent of a person who is on active military duty stationed in the state; (g) a student who resides in Washington and is the spouse or a dependent of a person who is a member of the Washington National Guard; or (h) a student of an out-of-state institution of higher education who is attending a Washington State institution of higher education pursuant to a home tuition agreement.  

Summary of Bill: To receive state work-study, the recipient must be a resident student. When awarding state work-study, priority is given to job placements in high employer demand fields related to the student's academic or vocational pursuits, with an emphasis on off-campus placements. The priorities given to former foster youth and off-campus service placements are retained.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The purpose of the bill is to increase the availability of work study for Washington students and to give students experiences in high demand fields. Employers in high demand fields are looking for ways to increase internship possibilities.

CON: The program is working well now, so why change it? Nonresident students going to school here are no less effective at contributing to Washington's economy. This would cause a significant reduction in work study availability at private colleges in Washington.

OTHER: Terminating nonresident work study opportunities would be a significant policy shift. Many current students receiving work study would no longer be eligible. Colleges along border counties would like an exception to the resident requirement to facilitate cross-border educational opportunities. A lot of quality work is done on-campus using work study students, especially in smaller communities. Many nonresident students subsequently choose to remain in Washington.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Kilmer, prime sponsor; Scott Copeland, SBCTC.

CON: Greg Scheiderer, Independent Colleges of Washington; Kathleen Koch, Janet Carleton, Seattle University, WFAA.

OTHER: John Klacik, HECB; Julie Suchanek, TESC; Steve DuPont, CWU student; David Parsons, UAW 4121.