2088-S.E AMS ROCK HOVD 028

ESHB 2088 - S AMD TO S COMM AMD (S-3088.1) 472

By Senators Rockefeller, Kilmer, Brown

NOT ADOPTED 05/25/2011

    On page 3, beginning on line 18, after "governor" strike all material through "position," on line 20

    On page 5, line 26, after "account" insert "or to the college bound scholarship program established in chapter 28B.118 RCW"

    On page 5, beginning on line 35, after "shall" strike all material through "account" on line 37 and insert "follow the private contributions into either of the opportunity scholarship accounts or to the college bound scholarship program, in equal proportion to the private funds so contributed"

    On page 6, line 4, after "account" insert "or directed to the board for purposes of the college bound scholarship program pursuant to RCW 28B.118.050"

    On page 7, line 32, after "opportunity" insert "and college bound"

    On page 7, line 35, after "act" insert "and the college bound scholarship program created in chapter 28B.118 RCW"

    On page 8, line 2, after "program" insert "and the college bound scholarship program"

    On page 8, line 6, after "account" insert "for purposes of the opportunity scholarship program"

    On page 8, line 12, after "opportunity" insert "and college bound"

    On page 12, after line 20, insert the following:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11.  RCW 28B.118.010 and 2008 c 321 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    The higher education coordinating board shall design the Washington college bound scholarship program in accordance with this section.

    (1) "Eligible students" are those students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.  If a student qualifies in the seventh grade, the student remains eligible even if the student does not receive free or reduced-price lunches thereafter.

    (2) Eligible students shall be notified of their eligibility for the Washington college bound scholarship program beginning in their seventh grade year.  Students shall also be notified of the requirements for award of the scholarship.

    (3) To be eligible for a Washington college bound scholarship, a student must sign a pledge during seventh or eighth grade that includes a commitment to graduate from high school with at least a C average and with no felony convictions.  Students who were in the eighth grade during the 2007-08 school year may sign the pledge during the 2008-09 school year.  The pledge must be witnessed by a parent or guardian and forwarded to the higher education coordinating board by mail or electronically, as indicated on the pledge form.

    (4)(a) Scholarships shall be awarded to eligible students graduating from public high schools, approved private high schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or who received home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW.

    (b) To receive the Washington college bound scholarship, a student must graduate with at least a "C" average from a public high school or an approved private high school under chapter 28A.195 RCW in Washington or have received home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW, must have no felony convictions, and must be a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2) (a) through (d).

    (5) A student's family income will be assessed upon graduation before awarding the scholarship.

    (6) If at graduation from high school the student's family income does not exceed sixty-five percent of the state median family income, scholarship award amounts shall be as provided in this section.

    (a) For students attending two or four-year institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, the value of the award shall be (i) ((the difference between ))the student's tuition and required fees, less the value of any state-funded grant, scholarship, or waiver assistance the student receives and less the value of any financial assistance the student receives from the opportunity scholarship program; (ii) plus five hundred dollars for books and materials.

    (b) For students attending private four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, the award amount shall be the representative average of awards granted to students in public research universities in Washington.

    (c) For students attending private vocational schools in Washington, the award amount shall be the representative average of awards granted to students in public community and technical colleges in Washington.

    (7) Recipients may receive no more than four full-time years' worth of scholarship awards.

    (8) Institutions of higher education shall award the student all need-based and merit-based financial aid for which the student would otherwise qualify.  The Washington college bound scholarship is intended to replace unmet need, loans, and, at the student's option, work-study award before any other grants or scholarships are reduced.

    (9) The first scholarships shall be awarded to students graduating in 2012.

    (10) The state of Washington retains legal ownership of tuition units awarded as scholarships under this chapter until the tuition units are redeemed.  These tuition units shall remain separately held from any tuition units owned under chapter 28B.95 RCW by a Washington college bound scholarship recipient.

    (11) The scholarship award must be used within five years of receipt.  Any unused scholarship tuition units revert to the Washington college bound scholarship account.

    (12) Should the recipient terminate his or her enrollment for any reason during the academic year, the unused portion of the scholarship tuition units shall revert to the Washington college bound scholarship account.

    Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

EFFECT:   Makes the following changes to the striking amendment:

· Removes language regarding appointments made by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate in light of an earlier amendment which provided that all appointments would be made by the Governor.

· Provides that private contributions may be designated to either of the two Opportunity Scholarship accounts (scholarship or endowment) or to the College Bound Scholarship Program and that state match moneys follow the private contributions.

· Provides that the amount of any opportunity scholarship received by a college bound scholarship recipient shall be taken into account in determining the amount of the college bound scholarship.

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