H-2098

AN ACT Relating to higher education, but only with respect to tuition and fees at community colleges and residency requirements; amending RCW 28B.15.100; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that access to the state's community and technical colleges is critical for many residents who desire to obtain a higher education. The legislature recognizes that the current laws regarding residency impact community and technical colleges as well as public four-year institutions of higher education. Furthermore, a more mobile work force and the advancements of distance learning are two elements that are impacted by the state's current residency laws as they pertain to tuition at public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education. Therefore, the legislature intends to examine residency requirements for public institutions of higher education thoroughly.

The legislature also recognizes that certain tuition policies may have an adverse impact on the unique role of community colleges.

Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to eliminate impediments to the ability of community colleges to meet the diverse needs of students and business interests.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The higher education coordinating board shall convene a committee to examine residency requirements for out-of-state tuition. The committee shall consist of: Representatives from the state board for community and technical colleges, the office of financial management, the higher education coordinating board, and the four-year institutions of higher education.

(2) The study shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) The impact the state's laws for in-state and out-of-state tuition setting has on economic development within the state; and

(b) How the state's residency requirements should be applied to enrollment in distance learning courses.

(3) The study committee shall provide a final report to the senate and house of representatives committees on higher education by December 1, 1999.

(4) This section expires December 31, 1999.

Sec. 3. RCW 28B.15.100 and 1998 c 75 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges shall charge to and collect from each of the students registering at the particular institution for any quarter or semester such tuition fees and services and activities fees, and other fees as such board shall in its discretion determine. The total of all fees shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount: PROVIDED, That such tuition fees for other than the summer term shall be in the amounts for the respective institutions as otherwise set forth in RCW 28B.15.067.

(2) Part-time students shall be charged tuition and services and activities fees proportionate to full-time student rates established for residents and nonresidents: PROVIDED, That except for students registered at community colleges, students registered for fewer than two credit hours shall be charged tuition and services and activities fees at the rate established for two credit hours: PROVIDED FURTHER, That, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, residents of Idaho or Oregon who are enrolled in community college district number twenty for six or fewer credits during any quarter or semester may be exempted from payment of all or a portion of the nonresident tuition fees differential upon a declaration by the higher education coordinating board that it finds Washington residents from the community college district are afforded substantially equivalent treatment by such other states.

(3) Full-time students registered for more than eighteen credit hours shall be charged an additional operating fee for each credit hour in excess of eighteen hours at the applicable established per credit hour tuition fee rate for part-time students: PROVIDED, That, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities and the community colleges may exempt all or a portion of the additional charge, for students who are registered exclusively in first professional programs in medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, doctor of pharmacy, or law, or who are registered exclusively in required courses in vocational preparatory programs.