HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5514

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to the Washington award for vocational excellence.

Brief Description:  Changing Washington award for vocational excellence provisions.

Sponsors:  Senators Shin, Kohl‑Welles, Patterson, Eide, Kline, Bauer, Franklin, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Prentice, Hale, T. Sheldon, Goings, Jacobsen, Winsley, Rasmussen and Oke.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  3/23/99, 3/30/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Requires recipients of the WAVE award to use their award within six years.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Carlson, Republican Co-Chair; Kenney, Democratic Co-Chair; Lantz, Democratic Vice Chair; Radcliff, Republican Vice Chair; Dunn; Edmonds; Esser and Gombosky.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

Background:

In 1984, the Legislature created the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship program.  Through the award program, up to three students who demonstrate outstanding performance in occupational training programs are selected from each legislative district.

The recipient may use the grant to attend any institution of higher education, independent college or university or a licensed private vocational school.  The students may use their grants for tuition and service and activities fees.  To qualify for the two-year grants the recipients must enter an institution of higher education within three years of high school graduation.  The program is administered by the Workforce Training and Coordinating Board.

Current statutes do not provide a time limit on when recipients must complete use of the scholarship grant.  This lack of a time limit has created difficulties for administrators in determining a student's eligibility for the grant.  The lack of a completion date has also made it difficult for the administrative agency to provide budget projections on the amount of grant funding needed for future scholarships.

Summary of Bill:

Individuals who receive their award during the 1998-99 academic year must use their award within six years.

Individuals who received their award before the 1995-96 academic year must use the award by September 2002.

Recipients who received their award in the 1995-96, 1996-97 or 1997-98 academic years must use their award by September 2005.  Recipients who fail to use their award within these time limits will forfeit their award.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This bill seems small but it is very important.  It is important to academic excellence in vocational programs.  This bill helps to alleviate an administrative problem for the Workforce Training and Coordinating Board. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Paull Shin, prime sponsor; and Wes Pruitt, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.