HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5293

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senator Conner)

Establishing college classes in Clallam or Jefferson county.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Inslee, Jesernig, H. Myers, Prince, Rector and Wood.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Higher Education Coordinating Board has conducted assessments of the need for additional upper-division and graduate programs in the state's large urban centers.  The Board has assigned to various universities the responsibility for serving those urban centers, in some cases through branch campuses.

During 1989 and the first six months of 1990, the Board plans to conduct a needs assessment for placebound students living outside the areas addressed by the branch campus initiative.  The Board will use surveys and other methods to solicit advice from local residents, business associations, professional associations, and local papers.

The Board is one of five agencies participating in the Summer Motivation and Academic Residential Training Program, a demonstration program for at risk youth.  The attorney general will not permit the agency to sign contracts for the program without legislative authorization.

Current law requires non-resident students to pay substantially higher tuition than resident students. Students living in another state will be presumed to be non-residents until they can show that their parents are residents of the state of Washington, with a permanent home or domicile in the state.

SUMMARY:

The Higher Education Coordinating Board is directed to conduct an assessment of upper-division and graduate level courses and programs needed by placebound students living in areas of the state not addressed by the branch campus initiative. The assessment will include consideration of the needs in Clallam and Jefferson counties.  The Board will report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the House and Senate committees on higher education by September 1, 1990.

The Board may develop and administer demonstration projects designed to prepare and assist persons to obtain a higher education in the state.

Any dependent of a member of the United States Congress representing the State of Washington is exempt from the payment of the non-resident portion of tuition.

Veterans of the Vietnam conflict, who enroll in a state institution of higher education on or before May 7, 1990, will pay tuition rates in effect on October 1, 1977.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to contract with the University of Washington for the education of highly capable youth enrolled in the University's Early Entrance Program or Transition School.  In addition, state and federal funds provided to the Program and School may be supplimented with additional payments from other parties as necessary to cover the actual cost of instruction and related activities.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Paul Connor; Representative Evan Jones; Marijo Olson, Clallam County Economic Development Council.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The unemployment rate in the north peninsula area is above 10 percent.  Many placebound students need an opportunity to complete their baccalaureate degrees in order to obtain better jobs and help improve the economic climate of the area.  Too many of the bright students are leaving the area to attend college.  Often, these students do not return.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.