S-1738.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5923
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Senators West and Kohl
Read first time 02/20/97. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
AN ACT Relating to expanding eligibility for the educational opportunity grant program; amending RCW 28B.101.010 and 28B.101.020; and reenacting and amending RCW 28B.101.040.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 28B.101.010 and 1990 c 288 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
The
educational opportunity grant program is hereby created ((as a demonstration
project)) to serve placebound financially needy students by assisting them
to obtain a baccalaureate degree at public and private institutions of higher
education ((which have the capacity to accommodate such students within
existing educational programs and facilities)).
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.101.020 and 1990 c 288 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) For the purposes of this chapter, "placebound" means unable to relocate to complete a college program because of family or employment commitments, health concerns, monetary inability, or other similar factors.
(2)
To be eligible for an educational opportunity grant, applicants must be
placebound residents of the state of Washington who are needy students as
defined in RCW 28B.10.802(3) and who have completed the associate of arts
degree or its equivalent. A placebound resident is one who may be influenced
by the receipt of an enhanced student financial aid award ((to attend an
institution that has existing unused capacity rather than attend a branch
campus established pursuant to chapter 28B.45 RCW)). An eligible
placebound applicant is further defined as a person ((whose residence is
located in an area served by a branch campus)) who, because of family or
employment commitments, health concerns, monetary need, or other similar
factors, would be unable to complete an upper-division course of study but for
receipt of an educational opportunity grant.
Sec. 3. RCW 28B.101.040 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 35 and 1993 c 385 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
Grants may be used by eligible participants to attend any public or
private college or university in the state of Washington that is accredited by
an accrediting association recognized by rule of the higher education
coordinating board ((and that has an existing unused capacity. Grants shall
not be used to attend any branch campus or educational program established
under chapter 28B.45 RCW)). The participant shall not be eligible for a
grant if it will be used for any programs that include religious worship,
exercise, or instruction or to pursue a degree in theology. Each participating
student may receive up to two thousand five hundred dollars per academic year,
not to exceed the student's demonstrated financial need for the course of
study. Resident students as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2)(e) are not eligible
for grants under this chapter.
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