BILL REQ. #:  S-1473.3 

Read first time 02/17/09.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to revitalizing student financial aid; amending RCW 28B.92.060, 28B.92.030, 28B.15.543, 28B.76.660, 28B.76.665, 28B.15.0681, 28B.76.500, 28B.15.820, and 28B.12.030; adding a new section to chapter 28B.101 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 28B.92 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 28B.101.005, 28B.101.010, 28B.101.020, and 28B.101.040; providing effective dates; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that a myriad of financial aid programs exist for students at the federal, state, local, community, and institutional levels. These programs enable thousands of students across Washington to access all sectors of higher education, from apprenticeship programs to public and private four and two-year institutions of higher education. The legislature further finds that Washington state is a national leader in the distribution of financial aid to increase college access and affordability, ranking fourth in the nation in 2007 in terms of state student grant aid funding per capita.
     It is the intent of the legislature to promote and expand access to state financial aid programs by determining which programs provide the greatest value to the largest number of students, and by fully supporting those programs. Furthermore, it is the intent of the legislature to designate all existing financial aid an "opportunity passport," with the effect of providing students with a clear understanding of available resources to pay for postsecondary education, thereby increasing access to postsecondary education and meeting the needs of local business and industry.
     It is the intent of the legislature that the higher education coordinating board and institutions of higher education coordinate the development of outreach tools, such as a web-based portal for information on all opportunity grant aid programs. The information should be communicated in a format and manner that provides an ease of understanding for students and their families and include other pertinent information on institutions of higher education, costs, and academic programs. It is also the intent of the legislature for institutions of higher education to incorporate this information in promotional materials to prospective and current students and their families.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.101 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature intends to consolidate the educational opportunity grant program over a period of two years. As of August 1, 2009, no new educational opportunity grants may be made. Persons who have been selected by the higher education coordinating board to receive a grant before August 1, 2009, shall receive the full amount of their award, not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars per academic year for a maximum of two years. All persons awarded an educational opportunity grant before August 1, 2009, must complete using the award before August 1, 2011. For these recipients, eligibility for the grant is forfeited after this period.
     (2) This section expires August 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28B.92 RCW to read as follows:
     To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose and within overall appropriations for the state need grant as defined in this chapter, need grants are provided for persons who meet all of the following criteria:
     (1) Are needy students as defined in RCW 28B.92.030;
     (2) Are placebound students as defined in RCW 28B.92.030; and
     (3) Have completed the associate of arts or the associate of science degree.

Sec. 4   RCW 28B.92.060 and 2007 c 404 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     In awarding need grants, the board shall proceed substantially as follows: PROVIDED, That nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent the board, in the exercise of its sound discretion, from following another procedure when the best interest of the program so dictates:
     (1) The board shall annually select the financial aid award recipients from among Washington residents applying for student financial aid who have been ranked according to:
     (a) Financial need as determined by the amount of the family contribution; and
     (b) Other considerations, such as whether the student is a former foster youth, or is a placebound student who has completed an associate of arts or associate of science degree or its equivalent.
     (2) The financial need of the highest ranked students shall be met by grants depending upon the evaluation of financial need until the total allocation has been disbursed. Funds from grants which are declined, forfeited or otherwise unused shall be reawarded until disbursed, except that eligible former foster youth shall be assured receipt of a grant.
     (3) A student shall be eligible to receive a state need grant for up to five years, or the credit or clock hour equivalent of five years, or up to one hundred twenty-five percent of the published length of time of the student's program. A student may not start a new associate degree program as a state need grant recipient until at least five years have elapsed since earning an associate degree as a need grant recipient, except that a student may earn two associate degrees concurrently. Qualifications for renewal will include maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward completion of an eligible program as determined by the board. Should the recipient terminate his or her enrollment for any reason during the academic year, the unused portion of the grant shall be returned to the state educational grant fund by the institution according to the institution's own policy for issuing refunds, except as provided in RCW 28B.92.070.
     (4) In computing financial need, the board shall determine a maximum student expense budget allowance, not to exceed an amount equal to the total maximum student expense budget at the public institutions plus the current average state appropriation per student for operating expense in the public institutions. Any child support payments received by students who are parents attending less than half-time shall not be used in computing financial need.
     (5)(a) A student who is enrolled in three to six credit-bearing quarter credits, or the equivalent semester credits, may receive a grant for up to one academic year before beginning a program that leads to a degree or certificate.
     (b) An eligible student enrolled on a less-than-full-time basis shall receive a prorated portion of his or her state need grant for any academic period in which he or she is enrolled on a less-than-full-time basis, as long as funds are available.
     (c) An institution of higher education may award a state need grant to an eligible student enrolled in three to six credit-bearing quarter credits, or the semester equivalent, on a provisional basis if:
     (i) The student has not previously received a state need grant from that institution;
     (ii) The student completes the required free application for federal student aid;
     (iii) The institution has reviewed the student's financial condition, and the financial condition of the student's family if the student is a dependent student, and has determined that the student is likely eligible for a state need grant; and
     (iv) The student has signed a document attesting to the fact that the financial information provided on the free application for federal student aid and any additional financial information provided directly to the institution is accurate and complete, and that the student agrees to repay the institution for the grant amount if the student submitted false or incomplete information.
     (6) As used in this section, "former foster youth" means a person who is at least eighteen years of age, but not more than twenty-four years of age, who was a dependent of the department of social and health services at the time he or she attained the age of eighteen.

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) 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.
     (6) "Placebound student" means a student who (a) is unable to complete a college program because of family or employment commitments, health concerns, monetary inability, or other similar factors; and (b) may be influenced by the receipt of an enhanced student financial aid award to complete a baccalaureate degree at an eligible institution.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature intends to change eligibility requirements of the Washington scholars program. Persons who have been selected by the higher education coordinating board as Washington scholars or Washington scholars-alternates before August 1, 2009, shall continue to be eligible to receive a maximum of twelve quarters or eight semesters of grants for undergraduate study, subject to applicable rule of the higher education coordinating board. Persons who have been selected by the higher education coordinating board as Washington scholars or Washington scholars-alternates on or after August 1, 2009, are eligible to receive a maximum of six quarters or four semesters of grants for undergraduate study.
     (2) It is further the intent of the legislature to redirect any cost savings gained through changes in eligibility criteria to the Washington scholars program to the state work-study program, as defined in chapter 28B.12 RCW.

Sec. 7   RCW 28B.15.543 and 2004 c 275 s 49 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges shall waive tuition and service and activities fees for students named by the higher education coordinating board on or before June 30, 1994, as recipients of the Washington scholars award under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150. The waivers shall be used only for undergraduate studies. To qualify for the waiver, recipients shall enter the college or university within three years of high school graduation and maintain a minimum grade point average at the college or university equivalent to 3.30. Students ((shall be)) named as recipients before August 1, 2009, are eligible to receive a maximum of twelve quarters or eight semesters of waivers and may transfer among state-supported institutions of higher education during that period and continue to have the tuition and services and activities fees waived by the state-supported institution of higher education that the student attends. Beginning August 1, 2009, students named as recipients are eligible to receive a maximum of six quarters or four semesters of waivers and may transfer among state-supported institutions of higher education during that period and continue to have the tuition and services and activities fees waived by the state-supported institution of higher education that the student attends. Should the student's cumulative grade point average fall below 3.30 during the first three quarters or two semesters, that student may petition the higher education coordinating board which shall have the authority to establish a probationary period until such time as the student's grade point average meets required standards.
     (2) Students named by the higher education coordinating board after June 30, 1994, as recipients of the Washington scholars award under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 shall be eligible to receive a grant for undergraduate course work as authorized under RCW 28B.76.660.

Sec. 8   RCW 28B.76.660 and 2005 c 518 s 917 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Recipients of the Washington scholars award or the Washington scholars-alternate award under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 who choose to attend an independent college or university in this state, as defined in subsection (4) of this section, and recipients of the award named after June 30, 1994, who choose to attend a public college or university in the state may receive grants under this section if moneys are available. The higher education coordinating board shall distribute grants to eligible students under this section from moneys appropriated for this purpose. The individual grants shall not exceed, on a yearly basis, the yearly, full-time, resident, undergraduate tuition and service and activities fees in effect at the state-funded research universities. Grants to recipients attending an independent institution shall be contingent upon the institution matching on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis, either with actual money or by a waiver of fees, the amount of the grant received by the student from the state. The higher education coordinating board shall establish procedures, by rule, to disburse the awards as direct grants to the students.
     (2) The higher education coordinating board shall establish rules that provide for the annual awarding of grants, if moneys are available, to three Washington scholars per legislative district except for fiscal year 2007 when no more than two scholars per district shall be selected; and, if not used by an original recipient, to the Washington scholars-alternate from the same legislative district.
     Beginning with scholars selected in the year 2000, if the recipients of grants fail to demonstrate in a timely manner that they will enroll in a Washington institution of higher education in the fall term of the academic year following the award of the grant or are deemed by the higher education coordinating board to have withdrawn from college during the first academic year following the award, then the grant shall be considered relinquished. The higher education coordinating board may then award any remaining grant amounts to the Washington scholars-alternate from the same legislative district if the grants are awarded within one calendar year of the recipient being named a Washington scholars-alternate. Washington scholars-alternates named as recipients of the grant must also demonstrate in a timely manner that they will enroll in a Washington institution of higher education during the next available term, as determined by the higher education coordinating board. The board may accept appeals and grant waivers to the enrollment requirements of this section based on exceptional mitigating circumstances of individual grant recipients.
     To maintain eligibility for the grants, recipients must maintain a minimum grade point average at the college or university equivalent to 3.30. Students ((shall be)) selected before August 1, 2009, are eligible to receive a maximum of twelve quarters or eight semesters of grants for undergraduate study and may transfer among in-state public and independent colleges and universities during that period and continue to receive the grant as provided under RCW 28B.76.665. Beginning August 1, 2009, students named as recipients are eligible to receive a maximum of six quarters or four semesters of grants for undergraduate study and may transfer among in-state public and independent colleges and universities during that period and continue to receive the grant as provided under RCW 28B.76.665. If the student's cumulative grade point average falls below 3.30 during the first three quarters or two semesters, that student may petition the higher education coordinating board which shall have the authority to establish a probationary period until such time as the student's grade point average meets required standards.
     (3) No grant shall be awarded to any student who is pursuing a degree in theology.
     (4) As used in this section, "independent college or university" means a private, nonprofit educational institution, the main campus of which is permanently situated in the state, open to residents of the state, providing programs of education beyond the high school level leading at least to the baccalaureate degree, and accredited by the northwest association of schools and colleges as of June 9, 1988, and other institutions as may be developed that are approved by the higher education coordinating board as meeting equivalent standards as those institutions accredited under this section.
     (5) As used in this section, "public college or university" means an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

Sec. 9   RCW 28B.76.665 and 2004 c 275 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
     Students receiving grants under RCW 28B.76.660 or waivers under RCW 28B.15.543 are entitled to transfer among in-state public and independent colleges or universities and to continue to receive award benefits, as provided in this section, in the form of a grant or waiver of tuition and services and activities fees while enrolled at such institutions during the period of eligibility. For students receiving grants or waivers before August 1, 2009, the total grants or waivers for any one student shall not exceed twelve quarters or eight semesters of undergraduate study. Beginning August 1, 2009, the total grants or waivers for any one student shall not exceed six quarters or four semesters of undergraduate study.
     (1) Scholars named to the award on or before June 30, 1994, may transfer between in-state public institutions, or from an eligible independent college or university to an in-state public institution of higher education, and are entitled to receive the waiver of tuition and services and activities fees.
     (2) Scholars named to the award on or before June 30, 1994, may transfer from an in-state public institution to an eligible independent college or university, or between eligible independent colleges or universities, and continue to receive a grant contingent upon available funding.
     (3) Scholars named to the award after June 30, 1994, may transfer among in-state public or private colleges and universities and continue to receive the grant contingent upon available funding.
     (4) In addition, scholars who transfer to an eligible independent institution may receive the grant contingent upon the agreement of the school to match on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis, either with actual money or by a waiver of fees, the amount of the grant received by the student from the state.

Sec. 10   RCW 28B.15.0681 and 2007 c 151 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to the requirement in RCW 28B.76.300(4), institutions of higher education shall disclose to their undergraduate resident students on the tuition billing statement, in dollar figures for a full-time equivalent student:
     (((1))) (a) The full cost of instruction((, (2)));
     (b) The amount collected from student tuition and fees((,)); and
     (((3))) (c) The difference between the amounts for the full cost of instruction and the student tuition and fees((, noting))
     (2) The tuition billing statement shall note that the difference between the cost and tuition under subsection (1)(c) of this section was paid by state tax funds and other moneys.
     (3) Beginning in the 2010-11 academic year, the amount determined in subsection (1)(c) of this section shall be labeled an "opportunity passport" on the tuition billing statement.
     (4) Beginning in the 2010-11 academic year, institutions of higher education shall label all financial aid awarded to resident undergraduate students as an "opportunity passport" on the tuition billing statement or financial aid award notification. This includes aid from all sources including federal, state, and local governments, local communities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education. The disclosure requirements specified in this section do not change the source, award amount, student eligibility, or student obligations associated with each award. Institutions of higher education retain the ability to customize their tuition billing statements to inform students of the assistance source, amount, and type so long as provisions of this section are also fulfilled.

Sec. 11   RCW 28B.76.500 and 1985 c 370 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall administer any state program or state-administered federal program of student financial aid now or hereafter established.
     (2) Each of the student financial aid programs administered by the board shall be labeled an "opportunity passport." All communication materials, including, but not limited to, printed materials, presentations, and web content, shall include the "opportunity passport" label.
     (3) If the board develops a one-stop college information web-based portal that includes financial, academic, and career planning information, the portal shall display all available student financial aid programs under the "opportunity passport" label.
     (4) The labeling requirements in this section do not change the source, eligibility requirements, or student obligations associated with each program. The board retains the ability to customize its communications to differentiate between programs, eligibility requirements, and student obligations, so long as the reporting provisions of this chapter are also fulfilled.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12   A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter, "dual credit program" means a program, administered by either an institution of higher education or a high school, through which high school students in the eleventh or twelfth grade who have not yet received the credits required for the award of a high school diploma apply to a participating institution of higher education to enroll in courses or programs offered by the institution of higher education and simultaneously earn high school and college credit.

Sec. 13   RCW 28B.15.820 and 2007 c 404 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each institution of higher education, including technical colleges, shall deposit a minimum of three and one-half percent of revenues collected from tuition and services and activities fees in an institutional financial aid fund that is hereby created and which shall be held locally. Moneys in the fund shall be used only for the following purposes: (a) To make guaranteed long-term loans to eligible students as provided in subsections (3) through (8) of this section; (b) to make short-term loans as provided in subsection (9) of this section; or (c) to provide financial aid to needy students as provided in subsection (10) of this section.
     (2) An "eligible student" for the purposes of subsections (3) through (8) and (10) of this section is a student registered for at least three credit hours or the equivalent, who is eligible for resident tuition and fee rates as defined in RCW 28B.15.012 and 28B.15.013, and who is a "needy student" as defined in RCW 28B.92.030.
     (3) The amount of the guaranteed long-term loans made under this section shall not exceed the demonstrated financial need of the student. Each institution shall establish loan terms and conditions which shall be consistent with the terms of the guaranteed loan program established by 20 U.S. Code Section 1071 et seq., as now or hereafter amended. All loans made shall be guaranteed by the Washington student loan guaranty association or its successor agency. Institutions are hereby granted full authority to operate as an eligible lender under the guaranteed loan program.
     (4) Before approving a guaranteed long-term loan, each institution shall analyze the ability of the student to repay the loan based on factors which include, but are not limited to, the student's accumulated total education loan burdens and the employment opportunities and average starting salary characteristics of the student's chosen fields of study. The institution shall counsel the student on the advisability of acquiring additional debt, and on the availability of other forms of financial aid.
     (5) Each institution is responsible for collection of guaranteed long-term loans made under this section and shall exercise due diligence in such collection, maintaining all necessary records to insure that maximum repayments are made. Institutions shall cooperate with other lenders and the Washington student loan guaranty association, or its successor agency, in the coordinated collection of guaranteed loans, and shall assure that the guarantability of the loans is not violated. Collection and servicing of guaranteed long-term loans under this section shall be performed by entities approved for such servicing by the Washington student loan guaranty association or its successor agency: PROVIDED, That institutions be permitted to perform such servicing if specifically recognized to do so by the Washington student loan guaranty association or its successor agency. Collection and servicing of guaranteed long-term loans made by community colleges under subsection (1) of this section shall be coordinated by the state board for community and technical colleges and shall be conducted under procedures adopted by the state board.
     (6) Receipts from payment of interest or principal or any other subsidies to which institutions as lenders are entitled, that are paid by or on behalf of borrowers of funds under subsections (3) through (8) of this section, shall be deposited in each institution's financial aid fund and shall be used to cover the costs of making the guaranteed long-term loans under this section and maintaining necessary records and making collections under subsection (5) of this section: PROVIDED, That such costs shall not exceed five percent of aggregate outstanding loan principal. Institutions shall maintain accurate records of such costs, and all receipts beyond those necessary to pay such costs, shall be deposited in the institution's financial aid fund.
     (7) The governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College, and the state board for community and technical colleges, on behalf of the community colleges and technical colleges, shall each adopt necessary rules and regulations to implement this section.
     (8) First priority for any guaranteed long-term loans made under this section shall be directed toward students who would not normally have access to educational loans from private financial institutions in Washington state, and maximum use shall be made of secondary markets in the support of loan consolidation.
     (9) Short-term loans, not to exceed one year, may be made from the institutional financial aid fund to students enrolled in the institution. No such loan shall be made to any student who is known by the institution to be in default or delinquent in the payment of any outstanding student loan. A short-term loan may be made only if the institution has ample evidence that the student has the capability of repaying the loan within the time frame specified by the institution for repayment.
     (10) Any moneys deposited in the institutional financial aid fund that are not used in making long-term or short-term loans may be used by the institution for locally administered financial aid programs for needy students, such as need-based institutional employment programs or need-based tuition and fee scholarship or grant programs. These funds shall be used in addition to and not to replace institutional funds that would otherwise support these locally administered financial aid programs. First priority in the use of these funds shall be given to needy students who have accumulated excessive educational loan burdens. An excessive educational loan burden is a burden that will be difficult to repay given employment opportunities and average starting salaries in the student's chosen fields of study. Second priority in the use of these funds shall be given to needy single parents, to assist these students with their educational expenses, including expenses associated with child care and transportation.
     (11) Any moneys deposited in the institutional financial aid fund may be used by the institution for a locally administered financial aid program for high school students enrolled in dual credit programs. If institutions use funds in this manner, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the state board for community and technical colleges shall each adopt necessary rules to implement this subsection. Moneys from this fund may be used for all educational expenses related to a student's participation in a dual credit program including but not limited to tuition, fees, course materials, and transportation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 14   A new section is added to chapter 28B.92 RCW to read as follows:
     Institutions of higher education are encouraged to review their policies and procedures regarding financial aid for students enrolled in dual credit programs as defined in section 12 of this act. Institutions of higher education are further encouraged to implement policies and procedures providing students enrolled in dual credit programs with the same access to institutional aid, including all educational expenses, as provided to resident undergraduate students.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 15   The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective August 1, 2011:
     (1) RCW 28B.101.005 (Finding -- Intent) and 2003 c 233 s 1 & 1990 c 288 s 2;
     (2) RCW 28B.101.010 (Program created) and 2003 c 233 s 2 & 1990 c 288 s 3;
     (3) RCW 28B.101.020 (Definition -- Eligibility) and 2004 c 275 s 67, 2003 c 233 s 3, & 1990 c 288 s 4;
     (4) RCW 28B.101.030 (Administration of program -- Payments to participants) and 1990 c 288 s 5; and
     (5) RCW 28B.101.040 (Use of grants) and 2003 c 233 s 4 & 2002 c 186 s 3.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 16   This act takes effect August 1, 2009.