READ FIRST TIME 02/22/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to adding eligibility criteria for higher education financial aid; amending RCW 28B.92.010; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that many American youth arrive in this country and this state through the decision of their parents to relocate in search of opportunities to improve their lives and futures.
     On June 15, 2012, President Obama introduced the deferred action for childhood arrivals process. Building on this directive, this act is intended to provide a more affordable and attainable route to college for children granted deferred action for childhood arrival status who reside in Washington state. While extending in-state tuition to these youth has helped them better afford higher education in this state, financial aid is necessary to extend to them the full American dream. The extension of financial aid to these aspiring young Americans is also necessary to position everyone for economic success and strengthen Washington state's competitive edge in the world economy.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.92.010 and 2004 c 275 s 34 are each amended to read as follows:
     The purposes of this chapter are to establish the principles upon which the state financial aid programs will be based and to establish the state of Washington state need grant program, thus assisting financially needy or disadvantaged students domiciled in Washington to obtain the opportunity of attending an accredited institution of higher education. State need grants under this chapter are available only to students who are resident students as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2) (a) through (((d))) (e) or any person who has completed the full senior year of high school and obtained a high school diploma, either at a Washington public high school or private high school approved under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or a person who has received the equivalent of a diploma; who has lived in Washington state for at least three years immediately before receiving the diploma or its equivalent; who has continuously lived in the state of Washington after receiving the diploma or its equivalent and until such time as the individual is admitted to an eligible institution of higher education and has been granted deferred action for childhood arrival status pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted by the United States citizenship and immigration services.