HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6305

BYSenate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Saling, Vognild, Bauer, Stratton, Smitherman, Warnke, von Reichbauer and Moore)

Changing exemptions for tuition and services and activities fees.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Miller, Prince, Rector and Wood.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (23)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

State colleges and universities are permitted to waive tuition and fees for the children of either fire fighters or law enforcement officers who died or became totally disabled in the line of duty.  Additional eligibility criteria are outlined in the law.  Fire fighters must have been employed by full time or volunteer fire departments in the state.  Law enforcement officers must have been employed by a public law enforcement agency in the state.  The children of these persons must be over 19 years of age before they can receive these waivers.

SUMMARY:

The requirement that children of deceased or disabled fire fighters and law enforcement officers be over the age of 19 before they are eligible for a tuition and fee waiver is removed.  However, in order to use the waiver, these students must begin their course of study within 10 years of high school graduation.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Higher Education)  Howard Vietske, fire fighter; and Charlie Marsh, Police Council.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Higher Education)  No one.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Higher Education)  A fire fighter's son in Tacoma is not yet 18.  He would like to attend college this fall but cannot use this exemption unless the law is changed to remove the age requirement.

(Appropriations)  None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Higher Education)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.