H-2322

AN ACT Relating to the Washington scholars program; amending RCW 28A.600.150 and 28B.80.245; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that approximately thirty-five percent of the recipients of the Washington scholars award under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 choose to enroll in an out-of-state college and therefore do not use the grants that would have been available to them under RCW 28B.80.245 had they chosen to attend a college or university in the state of Washington. It is the intent of the legislature to require high school seniors who are announced as recipients of the Washington scholars award to demonstrate in a timely manner that they will be using any grants they may receive with their awards to enroll in a college or university in Washington state during the fall term of the same year in which they receive the award. Any grants not used by initial recipients should be awarded to alternate recipients who must also demonstrate in a timely manner that they will be using their grants to enroll in a Washington college or university in Washington state during the fall term.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.600.150 and 1985 c 370 s 35 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~Washington scholars annually shall be selected from among the students so identified.~~)) Each year, three Washington scholars and one Washington scholars-alternate shall be selected from the students nominated under RCW 28A.600.140. The higher education coordinating board shall notify the students so designated, their high school principals, the legislators of their respective districts, and the governor when final selections have been made.

The board, in conjunction with the governor's office, shall prepare appropriate certificates to be presented to the Washington scholars ((~~recipients~~)) and the Washington scholars-alternates. An awards ceremony at an appropriate time and place shall be planned by the board in cooperation with the Washington association of secondary school principals, and with the approval of the governor.

Sec. 3. RCW 28B.80.245 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 5 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Recipients of the Washington scholars award or the Washington scholars-alternate award under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 who choose to attend an independent college or university in this state, as defined in subsection (4) of this section, and recipients of the award named after June 30, 1994, who choose to attend a public college or university in the state may receive grants under this section if moneys are available. The higher education coordinating board shall distribute grants to eligible students under this section from moneys appropriated for this purpose. The individual grants shall not exceed, on a yearly basis, the yearly, full-time, resident, undergraduate tuition and service and activities fees in effect at the state-funded research universities. Grants to recipients attending an independent institution shall be contingent upon the institution matching on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis, either with actual money or by a waiver of fees, the amount of the grant received by the student from the state. The higher education coordinating board shall establish procedures, by rule, to disburse the awards as direct grants to the students.

(2) ((~~To qualify for the grant, recipients shall enter the in-state college or university within three years of high school graduation and~~)) The higher education coordinating board shall establish rules that provide for the annual awarding of grants, if moneys are available, to three Washington scholars per legislative district; and, if not used by an original recipient, to the Washington scholars-alternate from the same legislative district.

Beginning with scholars selected in the year 2000, if the recipients of grants fail to demonstrate in a timely manner that they will enroll in a Washington institution of higher education in the fall term of the academic year following the award of the grant or are deemed by the higher education coordinating board to have withdrawn from college during the first academic year following the award, then the grant shall be considered relinquished. The higher education coordinating board may then award any remaining grant amounts to the Washington scholars-alternate from the same legislative district if the grants are awarded within one calendar year of the recipient being named a Washington scholars-alternate. Washington scholars-alternates named as recipients of the grant must also demonstrate in a timely manner that they will enroll in a Washington institution of higher education during the next available term, as determined by the higher education coordinating board. The board may accept appeals and grant waivers to the enrollment requirements of this section based on exceptional mitigating circumstances of individual grant recipients.

To maintain eligibility for the grants, recipients must maintain a minimum grade point average at the college or university equivalent to 3.30. Students shall be eligible to receive a maximum of twelve quarters or eight semesters of grants for undergraduate study and may transfer among in-state public and independent colleges and universities during that period and continue to receive the grant as provided under RCW 28B.80.246. If the student's cumulative grade point average falls below 3.30 during the first three quarters or two semesters, that student may petition the higher education coordinating board which shall have the authority to establish a probationary period until such time as the student's grade point average meets required standards.

(3) No grant shall be awarded to any student who is pursuing a degree in theology.

(4) As used in this section, "independent college or university" means a private, nonprofit educational institution, the main campus of which is permanently situated in the state, open to residents of the state, providing programs of education beyond the high school level leading at least to the baccalaureate degree, and accredited by the northwest association of schools and colleges as of June 9, 1988, and other institutions as may be developed that are approved by the higher education coordinating board as meeting equivalent standards as those institutions accredited under this section.

(5) As used in this section, "public college or university" means an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.