HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 5552
As Passed House ‑ Amended:
March 8, 2002
Title: An act relating to border county higher education opportunities.
Brief Description: Expanding border county higher education opportunities.
Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Carlson, Kohl‑Welles, Hale, B. Sheldon, Hewitt, Sheahan, Shin, Zarelli, Parlette and Horn).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Higher Education: 2/13/02, 2/22/02 [DP];
Appropriations: 2/27/02, 3/4/02 [DPA].
Floor Activity:
Passed House ‑ Amended: 3/8/02, 96-0.
|
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill (As Amended by House) |
|
$The Border County Higher Education Pilot Project is extended as a pilot project through June 30, 2004, and is expanded to include bordering Oregon counties and Washington institutions of higher education to participate in the program. Oregon residents are required to live in participating Oregon counties for one year.
|
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives Kenney, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Cox, Ranking Minority Member; Chase, Dunn and Jarrett.
Staff: Antonio Sanchez (786‑7383).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Doumit, 1st Vice Chair; Fromhold, 2nd Vice Chair; Sehlin, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Boldt, Buck, Clements, Cody, Cox, Dunshee, Grant, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, Lisk, Mastin, McIntire, Pearson, Pflug, Ruderman, Schual‑Berke, Talcott and Tokuda.
Staff: Laurie Schaffler (786‑7143).
Background:
Reciprocity agreements between Oregon and Washington have been in effect for nearly two decades. The agreements specify numbers of students participating and dollar amounts waived by each state. Since the early 1990s, several colleges and universities in both states elected to discontinue participation due primarily to administration complexities.
In 1997, Oregon state statute allowed Washington residents to enroll in courses at any of its community colleges at resident tuition rates. Washington residents also could enroll at Portland State University and Oregon Institute of Technology for eight credits or less at resident tuition rates.
In 1999, the Border County Higher Education Pilot Project was created responding to tuition policy changes made by the state of Oregon. Under the pilot project, residents of Oregon who have resided in Columbia, Multnomah, Clatsop or Washington counties for at least 90 days are eligible to pay resident tuition rates for any number of credits if they enroll in courses at Lower Columbia Community College, Grays Harbor Community College, and Clark Community College, or for eight or fewer credits at the Vancouver branch of Washington State University. In 2000, the pilot project was expanded to include residents of Clackamas County, Oregon.
The program is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). Participating Washington institutions are required to give priority program enrollment to Washington residents. The HECB is required to analyze by program the impact of the pilot project on enrollment levels, distribution of students by residency, and enrollment capacity, and report to the Governor and Legislature on the results by November 30, 2001. The pilot project expires June 30, 2002.
Summary of Amended Bill:
The border reciprocity pilot project is extended until June 30, 2004 and expanded to allow Washington institutions of higher education located in counties on the Oregon border. The Columbia Basin Community College, Walla Walla Community College, and the Tri-Cities branch of Washington State University are added to the list of participating Washington institutions of higher education.
Residents of the Oregon counties of Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wasco are now eligible to enroll at the Washington community colleges participating in the program, and residents of the counties of Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa are now eligible to enroll at the Tri-Cities and Vancouver branches of Washington State University.
Oregon residents are required to live in participating Oregon counties for one year. The Higher Education Coordinating Board is required to report on the results of the pilot project by December 1, 2003.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (Higher Education) By allowing the exchange of students between our borders, we better serve the employment needs of our community and keep students close to their home. Some of our college programs need the enrollments. This will help.
Testimony For: (Appropriations) There is an artificial barrier between Washington and Oregon and this bill helps to eliminate this. The bill allows Washington State University-Vancouver and Tri-Cities campuses to form partnerships with Oregon institutions of higher education.
Testimony Against: (Higher Education) None.
Testimony Against: (Appropriations) None.
Testified: (Higher Education) Senator Carlson, prime sponsor; Bruce Botka, Higher Education Coordinating Board; Anthony Birch, Clark College; and Jane Yung Dennie, Washington State University.
Testified: (Appropriations) Jane Yung Dennie, Washington State University; and Bruce Botka, Higher Education Coordinating Board.