H-1164

AN ACT Relating to the western interstate commission for higher education western undergraduate exchange program; amending RCW 28B.15.910; adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that policies that encourage regional planning and access to higher education benefit both the students and the state. Such policies improve access, reduce unnecessary duplication, and make higher education more cost-effective. The western undergraduate exchange program, coordinated by the western interstate commission for higher education is a program through which students in participating states may enroll in designated institutions in other participating states at a special, reduced tuition level. During the 1998-99 school year institutions in fifteen western states participated in the western undergraduate exchange program, including Washington's bordering states of Oregon and Idaho. Eastern Washington University participated on a pilot basis. It is the intent of the legislature to permit Washington's institutions of higher education to participate in the western undergraduate exchange program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:

Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, and Central Washington University may waive all or a portion of the difference between fifty percent of the resident tuition and fees amount and the nonresident tuition fees differential for nonresident students who enroll under the western interstate commission for higher education western undergraduate exchange program.

Sec. 3. RCW 28B.15.910 and 1998 c 346 s 904 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except for revenue waived under programs listed in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, and unless otherwise expressly provided in the omnibus state appropriations act, the total amount of operating fees revenue waived, exempted, or reduced by a state university, a regional university, The Evergreen State College, or the community colleges as a whole, shall not exceed the percentage of total gross authorized operating fees revenue ((~~set forth below~~)) in this subsection. As used in this section, "gross authorized operating fees revenue" means the estimated gross operating fees revenue as estimated under RCW 82.33.020 or as revised by the office of financial management, before granting any waivers. This limitation applies to all tuition waiver programs established before or after July 1, 1992.

(a) University of Washington 21 percent

(b) Washington State University 20 percent

(d) Central Washington University 8 percent

(e) Western Washington University 10 percent

(f) The Evergreen State College 6 percent

(g) Community colleges as a whole 35 percent

(2) The limitations in subsection (1) of this section apply to waivers, exemptions, or reductions in operating fees contained in the following:

(a) RCW 28B.10.265;

(b) RCW 28B.15.014;

(d) RCW 28B.15.225;

(e) RCW 28B.15.380;

(f) RCW 28B.15.520;

(g) RCW 28B.15.526;

(h) RCW 28B.15.527;

(i) RCW 28B.15.543;

(j) RCW 28B.15.545;

(k) RCW 28B.15.555;

(l) RCW 28B.15.556;

(m) RCW 28B.15.615;

(n) RCW 28B.15.620;

(o) RCW 28B.15.628;

(p) RCW 28B.15.730;

(q) RCW 28B.15.740;

(r) RCW 28B.15.750;

(s) RCW 28B.15.756;

(t) RCW 28B.50.259;

(u) RCW 28B.70.050;

(v) RCW 28B.80.580; and

(w) During the 1997-99 fiscal biennium, the western interstate commission for higher education undergraduate exchange program for students attending Eastern Washington University.

(3) The limitations in subsection (1) of this section do not apply to waivers, exemptions, or reductions in services and activities fees contained in the following:

(a) RCW 28B.15.522;

(b) RCW 28B.15.540; and

(4) The total amount of operating fees revenue waived, exempted, or reduced by institutions of higher education participating in the western interstate commission for higher education western undergraduate exchange program under section 2 of this act shall not exceed the percentage of total gross authorized operating fees revenue in this subsection.

(a) Washington State University 1 percent

(b) Eastern Washington University 3 percent