S-1410

AN ACT Relating to veterans' exemptions from higher education tuition and fees; amending RCW 28B.15.620 and 28B.15.628; adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28B.15.620 and 1995 c 349 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature finds that military and naval veterans who have served their country in wars on foreign soil have risked their own lives to defend both the lives of all Americans and the freedoms that define and distinguish our nation. The legislature also finds that veterans of the Vietnam conflict suffered during and after the war as the country anguished over its involvement in the conflict. It is the intent of the legislature to honor Vietnam veterans for the public service they have provided to their country. It is the further intent of the legislature that, for eligible Vietnam veterans, colleges and universities waive tuition and fee increases that have occurred since October 1, 1977.

(2) Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges may exempt veterans of the Vietnam conflict who have served in the southeast Asia theater of operations from the payment of all or a portion of any increase in tuition and fees that occur after October 1, 1977, if the veteran qualifies as a resident student under RCW 28B.15.012.

(3) For the purposes of this section, "veterans of the Vietnam conflict" shall be those persons who have been on active federal service as a member of the armed military or naval forces of the United States between a period commencing August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975.

((~~(4) This section shall expire June 30, 1999.~~))

Sec. 2. RCW 28B.15.628 and 1996 c 169 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature finds that military and naval veterans who have served their country in wars on foreign soil have risked their own lives to defend both the lives of all Americans and the freedoms that define and distinguish our nation. It is the intent of the legislature to honor Persian Gulf combat zone veterans for the public service they have provided to their country. It is the further intent of the legislature that, for eligible Persian Gulf combat zone veterans, institutions of higher education waive tuition and fee increases that have occurred after the 1990-91 academic year.

(2) Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges may exempt veterans of the Persian Gulf combat zone from all or a portion of increases in tuition and fees that occur after the 1990‑91 academic year, if the veteran could have qualified as a Washington resident student under RCW 28B.15.012(2), had he or she been enrolled as a student on August 1, 1990.

(3) For the purposes of this section, "a veteran of the Persian Gulf combat zone" means a person who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during any portion of the 1991 calendar year in the Persian Gulf combat zone as designated by executive order of the president of the United States.

((~~(4) This section expires June 30, 1999.~~))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:

Technical colleges are encouraged to provide veterans of the Vietnam conflict as defined in RCW 28B.15.620 and veterans of the Persian Gulf combat zone as defined in RCW 28B.15.628 with tuition waivers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.