AN ACT Relating to Washington college grant award amounts; amending RCW 28B.92.030; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.92 RCW.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(2) "Financial aid" means either loans, grants, or both, to students who demonstrate financial need enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student at institutions of higher education.

(3) "Financial need" means a demonstrated financial inability to bear the total cost of education as directed in rule by the office.

(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 that is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the council for the purposes of this section and that agrees to and complies with program rules adopted pursuant to RCW 28B.92.150. However, any institution, branch, extension or facility operating within the state of Washington that is affiliated with an institution operating in another state must be:

(ii) A branch of a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the council 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))20 consecutive years within the state of Washington, and has an annual enrollment of at least ((seven hundred))700 full-time equivalent students;

(a) For students attending two or four-year institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, is tuition and estimated fees for ((fifteen))15 quarter credit hours or the equivalent, as determined by the office, including operating fees, building fees, and services and activities fees.

(b) For students attending private four-year not-for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington, in the 2019-20 academic year, is ((nine thousand seven hundred thirty-nine dollars))$9,739 and ((may))must increase each year ((afterwards))beginning in the 2023-24 academic year by ((no more than)) the tuition growth factor.

(c) For students attending two-year private not-for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington, in the 2019-20 academic year, is ((three thousand six hundred ninety-four dollars))$3,694 and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.

(d) For students attending four-year private for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington, in the 2019-20 academic year, is ((eight thousand five hundred seventeen dollars))$8,517 and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.

(e) For students attending two-year private for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington, in the 2019-20 academic year, is ((two thousand eight hundred twenty-three dollars))$2,823 and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.

(f) For students attending Western Governors University-Washington, as established in RCW 28B.77.240, in the 2019-20 academic year, is ((five thousand six hundred nineteen dollars))$5,619 and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.

(g) For students attending approved apprenticeship programs, beginning in the 2022-23 academic year, is the same amount as the maximum Washington college grant for students attending two-year institutions of higher education as defined in (a) of this subsection to be used for tuition and fees, program supplies and equipment, and other costs that facilitate educational endeavors.

(h) Upon notification by the office of the attorney general that an institution identified in (a) through (g) of this subsection is subject to a final court order for discriminatory employment practices in violation of chapter 49.60 RCW, as provided for in section 2 of this act, the maximum grant for students attending the institution shall be the award level the institution was receiving at the time of the order, unless the institution has taken corrective action under section 2(1)(a) and (b) of this act.

(7) "Tuition growth factor" means an increase of no more than the average annual percentage growth rate of the median hourly wage for Washington for the previous ((fourteen))14 years as the wage is determined by the federal bureau of labor statistics.

(1) Any institution of higher education subject to a final court order for discriminatory employment practices in violation of chapter 49.60 RCW filed by the attorney general under RCW 49.60.350 shall not be eligible for adjustments to the maximum Washington college grant award as provided for in RCW 28B.92.030(5) unless:

(a) The institution of higher education has fulfilled the conditions or obligations associated with any court order or settlement resulting from the violation; or

(b) The institution of higher education has taken significant and meaningful steps to correct the violation, as determined by the Washington state human rights commission.

(2) An institution of higher education involved in a court proceeding brought by the attorney general under RCW 49.60.350 may continue to receive the inflationary adjustment provided in RCW 28B.92.030 until a final order adjudicates the matter.