BILL REQ. #:  S-0542.1 

Read first time 01/12/09.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to creating the historically Black college fund pilot project; amending RCW 28B.10.790 and 28B.92.030; adding new sections to chapter 28B.76 RCW; creating a new section; and providing expiration dates.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) The racial and ethnic diversity of the population of Washington is increasing;
     (b) Employers' demand for well-educated and well-trained graduates of all ethnic backgrounds is increasing;
     (c) Special efforts should be made to increase the participation of people of color in higher education programs;
     (d) Some of Washington's students of color would benefit from an opportunity to study in specialized programs or institutions of higher education located in other states;
     (e) The state could benefit by creating pilot projects that study creative, cost-effective ways to meet the postsecondary education needs of Washington's students; and
     (f) Historically Black colleges enroll and graduate the majority of African-American professionals and Ph.D. candidates in the United States.
     (2) Therefore, the legislature intends to direct the higher education coordinating board to establish a pilot project that permits a limited number of students to use their state need grant awards to study at Morehouse College, Howard University, Spelman College, Grambling State University, and Tuskegee University.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.76 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The historically Black college fund pilot project is created. Through the pilot project, up to one hundred students may use their state-funded need grant awards when they study at Morehouse College, Howard University, Spelman College, Grambling State University, or Tuskegee University.
     (2) This section expires June 30, 2014.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28B.76 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall administer the historically Black college fund pilot project.
     (2) The board shall permit up to one hundred needy Washington residents domiciled in Washington for at least one year before enrollment to use their state need grant awards if the students are enrolled half-time or more in Morehouse College, Howard University, Spelman College, Grambling State University, or Tuskegee University.
     (3) The board may adopt rules to establish eligibility criteria for student and institutional participation in the pilot project.
     (4) The board shall limit participation in the pilot project to no more than a total of one hundred students during the course of the project.
     (5) By December 15, 2014, the board shall report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature on the results of the pilot project. The report shall include a recommendation on the extent financial aid portability programs should be revised or expanded for Washington's students.
     (6) This section expires June 30, 2014.

Sec. 4   RCW 28B.10.790 and 2004 c 275 s 44 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Washington residents attending any nonprofit college or university in another state which has a reciprocity agreement with the state of Washington shall be eligible for the student financial aid program outlined in chapter 28B.92 RCW if (((1))) (a) they qualify as a "needy student" under RCW 28B.92.030(3), and (((2))) (b) the institution attended is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the ((higher education coordinating)) board for the purposes of this section and is specifically encompassed within or directly affected by such reciprocity agreement and agrees to and complies with program rules ((and regulations)) pertaining to such students and institutions adopted pursuant to RCW 28B.92.150.
     (2) Washington residents participating in the pilot project under section 2 of this act are eligible for the student financial aid program outlined in RCW 28B.92.010 through 28B.92.150 if the residents (a) qualify as needy students under RCW 28B.92.030(3), (b) are enrolled at an eligible institution as defined by the board under section 3 of this act, and (c) meet any additional criteria established by the board for participation in the pilot project.

Sec. 5   RCW 28B.92.030 and 2004 c 275 s 35 are each amended to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter:
     (1) "Institution or institutions of higher education" means:
     (a) Any public university, college, community college, or technical college operated by the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof; ((or))
     (b) Until June 30, 2014, any institution of higher education that meets the eligibility requirements established by the board under section 3 of this act; or
     (c) Any other university, college, school, or institute in the state of Washington offering instruction beyond the high school level which is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the board for the purposes of this section: PROVIDED, That any institution, branch, extension or facility operating within the state of Washington which is affiliated with an institution operating in another state must be a separately accredited member institution of any such accrediting association, or a branch of a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the board for purposes of this section, that is eligible for federal student financial aid assistance and has operated as a nonprofit college or university delivering on-site classroom instruction for a minimum of twenty consecutive years within the state of Washington, and has an annual enrollment of at least seven hundred full-time equivalent students: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no institution of higher education shall be eligible to participate in a student financial aid program unless it agrees to and complies with program rules and regulations adopted pursuant to RCW 28B.92.150.
     (2) "Financial aid" means loans and/or grants to needy students enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student at institutions of higher education.
     (3) "Needy student" means a post high school student of an institution of higher education who demonstrates to the board the financial inability, either through the student's parents, family and/or personally, to meet the total cost of board, room, books, and tuition and incidental fees for any semester or quarter.
     (4) "Disadvantaged student" means a post high school student who by reason of adverse cultural, educational, environmental, experiential, familial or other circumstances is unable to qualify for enrollment as a full time student in an institution of higher education, who would otherwise qualify as a needy student, and who is attending an institution of higher education under an established program designed to qualify the student for enrollment as a full time student.
     (5) "Board" means the higher education coordinating board.