SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 492

BYHouse Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Heavey, Jacobsen, Allen, Prince, Unsoeld, Miller, Brough, Kremen and R. King) 

Continuing the authority to permit installment payments of tuition and fees.

House Committe on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 23, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Craswell, Patterson, Saling, Smitherman.

Senate Staff:Judy McNickle (786-7423)

                  March 23, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 23, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1985 the Legislature authorized state colleges and universities to offer students an optional plan for paying tuition and fees, in advance, in monthly installments.  Institutions that initiate a tuition installment plan are permitted to transmit operating fees to the State Treasurer within five days following the close of registration of the academic term, instead of having to transmit those fees within 35 days of receipt, as is customarily required.  Institutions that implement a tuition installment plan also are required to report on the plan's effectiveness and administrative costs to the Legislature by January 1, 1988.

The Legislature provided $18,000 to Western Washington University to pilot test the tuition installment plan during the 1985-87 biennium.  During the current academic year, more than 800 Western students have sought to participate in the plan.

Authority to offer a tuition installment plan expires on June 30, 1987, as does authority to transmit operating fees collected under the program to the Treasurer within five days of the close of the appropriate academic term.

SUMMARY:

The June 30, 1987 expiration date on institutional authority to offer tuition installment plans is removed.  Also removed is the June 30, 1987 expiration date on authority to transmit operating fees collected through the program to the Treasurer within five days of the close of registration of the appropriate quarter or semester.  Obsolete reference to general tuition fees is deleted.

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 1987.

Senate Committee - Testified: Al Froderberg, Western Washington University; Jim Sullivan, Washington Student Lobby