COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Rep. Don Carlson, Republican Co-Chair; and

 Rep. Phyllis Kenney, Democratic Co-Chair

BILL ANALYSIS

SB 6298

Brief Description: Providing a space-available tuition waiver at public institutions of higher education for certain educational employees.

Background:   Washington public institutions of higher education are authorized to provide space-available tuition waivers to members of the National Guard and certain state employees.  Employees currently eligible include classified state employees and most employees at the state four and two-year public institutions, who are employed at least half-time. 

Eligible participants pay a minimum of five dollars to register.  No new course sections can be added to accommodate students eligible for these waivers.  In addition, these students are not counted in the enrollment figures for the institution and do not impact budgetary decisions. 

Institutions offering space available waivers may award them to its own employees before extending the benefit to those outside the institution.  However, all eligible state employees and members of the National Guard must be in the pool of people eligible to participate in the program.  Institutions may not discriminate between full and part-time employees.

Summary of the bill: Permanent certificated instructional staff and classified employees of school districts and educational service districts are added to the definition of eligible state employees and thus, can attend a state institution of higher education using space-available waivers.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Prepared for the House Higher Education Committee

by Erika Prager, Research Analyst (786-7120)

Office of Program Research

February 23, 2000