SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2025
As of February 15, 2024
Title: An act relating to modifying placement and salary matching requirements for the state work-study program.
Brief Description: Modifying placement and salary matching requirements for the state work-study program.
Sponsors: House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce (originally sponsored by Representatives Reed, Paul and Pollet).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/9/24, 95-2.
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/16/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Modifies the state work study employer reimbursement rate for certain public, nonprofit, and community service employers.
  • Grants the Office of Student Financial Assistance additional authority in administration of the State Work Study Program.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)
Background:

State Work Study. State Work Study (SWS) is a financial aid program where students get an approved job that may be located on or off-campus. To be eligible, a student must:

  • be a resident student;
  • file a Free Application for Student Aid or the Washington Application for Student Aid;
  • be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program at a participating college;
  • maintain satisfactory academic progress; and
  • be able to work legally in the United States.

 

Students may not work more than an average of 19 hours per week while enrolled, or more than 40 hours per week during breaks, depending on the award. Students must be paid on an hourly basis at a rate that is comparable to what a nonstudent would earn.

 

The SWS program reimburses employers a percentage of the gross wages paid to the student employee. Reimbursement rates are as follows:

Employer typeReimbursement rate
For-profit40%
Public institutions
Private institutions 
Government agencies		60%
Nonprofit community service providers
School districts
STEM - businesses whose primary business activity is in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics		70%
Summary of Bill:

The Office of Student Financial Assistance (Office) may create and enter into agreements with employers and eligible institutions to implement the SWS program.

 

SWS program funds for compensation of students placed at state work-study employers must not exceed an 80 percent reimbursement rate unless those placements are off-campus service placements or at public or nonprofit employers that seek to increase postsecondary enrollment for high school students.

 

The Office must approve placements at, and may determine salary matching requirements for, community service placements and placements at public and nonprofit employers that seek to increase postsecondary enrollment for high school students. The Office may create SWS agreements with employers and eligible institutions. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.