S-3814               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6490

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Rinehart, Saling, Stratton, Bauer, Rasmussen, Patterson, Gaspard, Cantu and DeJarnatt

Read first time 1/15/90 and referred to Committee on Higher Education.

AN ACT Relating to the first generation scholars program; adding new sections to Title 28B RCW; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The first generation scholars program is created.  The purposes of this program are to encourage first generation college students to enter higher education and to increase the diversity of the student population at state institutions of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     As used in sections 1 through 6 of this act, "first generation college student" means a student whose parents did not attend an institution of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The higher education coordinating board shall administer the first generation scholars program.  The program shall be designed to increase the number of first generation college students attending state institutions of higher education by providing scholarships, as funds are available, to selected eligible applicants.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     In administering the program, the higher education coordinating board shall have the following powers and duties:

          (1)  To adopt rules, as necessary, to implement sections 1 through 6 of this act;

          (2)  To allocate moneys, from available funds, to state institutions of higher education to select students to receive scholarships under the first generation scholars program;

          (3)  To publicize the program, including publicizing the program to students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, with a special emphasis on elementary grade students and their families; and

          (4)  To solicit and accept grants and donations from public and private sources for the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     A person is eligible to be selected for the first generation scholars program if:

          (1)  The person's parents have not attended an institution of higher education;

          (2)  The person could qualify as a resident student under RCW 28B.15.012;

          (3)  The person meets the definition of a needy student or disadvantaged student under RCW 28B.10.802; and

          (4)  The person is accepted for enrollment by a state institution of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     If funds are available, full or partial grants may be awarded to eligible students.  A grant shall not exceed the tuition and fees for one academic year at the state institution attended.  The student may be awarded grants in subsequent years, however an individual student shall not receive grants for more than four academic years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     Sections 1 through 6 of this act are each added to Title 28B RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.     The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the higher education coordinating board for the purposes of this act.