COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

 Rep. Phyllis Kenney, Democratic Co-Chair and

Rep. Don Carlson, Republican Co-Chair

BILL ANALYSIS

HB 2022

Brief Description:  Expanding the national guard scholarship program.

Background:  The Legislature created the national guard scholarship program in 1994.  Under this program, members of the Washington national guard may receive a conditional scholarship that cannot exceed the annual cost of undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Washington, plus an allowance for books and supplies. The scholarship is dependent upon the recipient serving in the national guard for one additional year for each year of conditional scholarship received.  Failure to meet the service requirements results in an obligation to repay the conditional scholarship, with interest.

An eligible student is currently defined as (1) an enlisted member or an officer of the rank of captain or below in the Washington national guard who (2) is a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012, who (3) attends an institution of higher education in Washington that is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.

This scholarship program is administered by the office of the adjutant general of the state military department.  The legislature appropriated $75,000 in FY 2000 and $75,000 in FY 2001 from the general fund solely for implementation of this conditional scholarship program.

Summary:  The eligibility requirements for the national guard conditional scholarship are modified.  An eligible student is simply defined as (1) an enlisted member or an officer of the rank of captain or below in the Washington national guard who (2) attends an institution of higher education that is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC).

To be eligible, a student does not need to be a resident as defined in RCW 28B.15.012.  A student is also not limited to attending institutions of higher education in Washington.  Instead, a student must attend an institution of higher education that is accredited by NASC.  Such institutions are located in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Utah.

Prepared for the House Higher Education Committee

by Erika Prager, Research Analyst (786-7120)

Office of Program Research

January 26, 2000