BILL REQ. #:  H-0859.1 

Read first time 01/21/09.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the border county higher education opportunity project; and amending RCW 28B.76.685 and 28B.15.0139.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.76.685 and 2003 c 159 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The border county higher education opportunity project is created. The purpose of the project is to allow Washington institutions of higher education that are located in counties on the Oregon border to implement tuition policies that correspond to Oregon policies. Under the border county project, Columbia Basin Community College, Clark College, Lower Columbia Community College, Grays Harbor Community College, and Walla Walla Community College may enroll students who reside in the bordering Oregon counties of Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Washington at resident tuition rates.
     (b) The Tri-Cities and Vancouver branches of Washington State University may enroll students who reside in the bordering Oregon counties of Columbia, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Washington for eight credits or less at resident tuition rates.
     (2) Columbia Basin Community College, Clark College, Lower Columbia Community College, Grays Harbor Community College, and Walla Walla Community College may enroll students at resident tuition rates who:
     (a) Are currently domiciled in Washington;
     (b) Relocated to Washington from one of the thirteen counties identified in subsection (1)(a) of this section within the previous twelve months; and
     (c) Were domiciled in one of the thirteen counties identified in subsection (1)(a) of this section for at least ninety days immediately before relocating to Washington.
     (3) The Tri-Cities and Vancouver branches of Washington State University may enroll students for eight credits or less at resident tuition rates who:
     (a) Are currently domiciled in Washington;
     (b) Relocated to Washington from one of the nine counties identified in subsection (1)(b) of this section within the previous twelve months; and
     (c) Were domiciled in one of the nine counties identified in subsection (1)(b) of this section for at least ninety days immediately before relocating to Washington.
     (4) Washington institutions of higher education participating in the project shall give priority program enrollment to Washington residents.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.15.0139 and 2003 c 159 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purposes of determining resident tuition rates, "resident student" includes a resident of Oregon, residing in Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington county, who meets the following conditions:
     (1) The student is eligible to pay resident tuition rates under Oregon laws and has been domiciled in Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington county for at least ninety days immediately before enrollment at a community college located in Asotin, Benton, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Franklin, Garfield, Klickitat, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, or Walla Walla county, Washington; ((or))
     (2) The student is enrolled in courses located at the Tri-Cities or Vancouver branch of Washington State University for eight credits or less; or
     (3) The student is currently domiciled in Washington and:
     (a) Was eligible to pay resident tuition rates under Oregon laws; and
     (b) Had been domiciled in Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington county for at least ninety days immediately before being domiciled in Washington.