Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Higher Education Committee |
HB 2587
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Creating a tuition and fees exemption for children and surviving spouses of certain highway workers.
Sponsors: Representatives Moscoso, Orcutt, Seaquist, Zeiger, Pollet, Reykdal, Hayes, Morrell, Ryu, Clibborn, Bergquist and Freeman.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/4/14
Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).
Background:
State law permits or requires state universities, regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and community colleges to provide tuition and fee waivers to certain individuals.
Under certain conditions, the following individuals must be given tuition and fee waivers to attend a post-secondary institute: wrongly convicted persons and their children; Washington Scholar students; children and spouses of eligible veteran or national guard members; and children and spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, or state patrol officers who lost their lives or became totally disabled in the line of duty.
Under certain conditions, the following individuals may be given tuition and fee waivers to attend a post-secondary institute: students, ages 19 and older, who are taking classes to complete their high school education; students age 60 and older; Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education students; certain foreign nationals; state employees, teachers, and other certified instructional staff; eligible veterans or national guard members; students from Oregon, Idaho, and Canadian British Columbia; dislocated forest product workers or their unemployed spouses; and others.
Summary of Bill:
Updates the list of students who must receive waivers of all tuition fees, and services and activities fees at state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College to include:
children and surviving spouses of highway workers; and
children and surviving spouses of highway workers employed by a transportation agency.
Definitions are provided for the terms "highway worker" and "transportation agency:"
"Highway worker" means active employees of a transportation agency, and supervisory highway maintenance and construction personnel.
"Transportation agency" means any agency, department, or division of a local or state government that is primarily concerned with highway and road construction and maintenance. However, a transportation agency does not include a government contractor.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.