HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5883

                       As Passed House

                        April 8, 1993

Title:  An act relating to high school students enrolled in community or technical colleges.

Brief Description:  Changing funding procedures for high school students enrolled in the running start program in community or technical colleges.

Sponsors:  Senators Bauer, Erwin, M. Rasmussen and Roach; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, April 1, 1993, DPA;

Appropriations, April 2, 1993, DPA(ED);

Passed House - Amended, April 8, 1993, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; Eide; G. Fisher; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens; and Vance.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Education.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes; Basich; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Leonard; Linville; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Sommers; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry; and Wolfe.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  The Running Start program was created in 1990 when the Legislature adopted educational "Choice" legislation.  The program allows high school juniors and seniors to attend classes at community and technical colleges, with their tuition and fees being paid from state basic education allocations that go to the student's school district.

The amount transmitted to community colleges is based on the number of college classes the student takes and the specific basic education appropriation for the student's school district.

Because of the small high school factor, staff mix, and other elements of the "Basic Education" formula, the amount paid to the college for a class varies from school district to school district.  This has created bookkeeping and other problems.

Summary of Bill:  The reimbursement from school districts to community and technical colleges for students in the Running Start program will be determined by the Superintendent of Public Instruction through the development of statewide uniform rates.  Criteria for developing the statewide uniform rates are provided.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to consult the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges on the calculation and distribution of the Running Start funds.

Corrections are made to the references to Vocational-Technical Institutes in the Running Start statute.  These schools are now known as Technical Colleges.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 23, 1993.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect September 1, 1993.

Testimony For:  (Education): This bill will make the transfer of monies for Running Start students much more efficient.

(Appropriations): This legislation will make us more efficient with Running Start funds.  Spokane Community College, for example, must compute a different rate for each of the 54 different school districts from which Running Start students come.  The 7 percent portion that may be retained by the school district is a compromise, and will be used to pay for high school related costs, such as counseling and administrative costs.

Testimony Against:  (Education): None.

(Appropriations): None.

Witnesses:  (Education): Ron Crossland, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (supports); and Ken Kanikeberg, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (supports).

(Appropriations): Ron Crossland, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (supports).