SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5215

                As Passed Senate, March 4, 1999

Title:  An act relating to veterans' exemptions from higher education tuition and fees.

Brief Description:  Extending veterans' exemptions from higher education tuition.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Bauer, Oke, Kohl‑Welles, Roach, Winsley, T. Sheldon and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  1/27/99, 2/10/99 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/4/99, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5215 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Bauer, Horn, Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Sheahan and B. Sheldon.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background:  The governing boards of the state's public higher education institutions may exempt veterans of the Vietnam conflict who served in Southeast Asia from any increase in student tuition and fees.  The veteran shall not be required to pay more than the total amount of tuition and fees paid by veterans of the Vietnam conflict on October 1, 1977.  To qualify for the exemption, the veteran must be a resident student and must have served in Southeast Asia during the time period between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975.  Currently, the expiration date for this tuition exemption is June 30, 1999.

The governing boards of the state's public higher education institutions may exempt veterans of the Persian Gulf combat zone from increases in tuition and fees that occur after the 1990-91 academic year.  To qualify for the exemption, the veteran must have qualified as a resident student if enrolled as a student on August 1, 1990.  The veteran also must have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during any portion of 1991 in the Persian Gulf combat zone.  Currently, the expiration date for this tuition exemption is June 30, 1999.

Summary of Bill:  The expiration date for the permissive and variable tuition exemptions is eliminated.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 19, 1999.

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

Testimony For:  It is good to remove the expiration dates.  It would help to have the technical colleges included in the program.  A means test is not objectionable.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Jamie Clausen, WSL, GPSS; Dennis Primoli, Veterans= Legislative Coalition.