SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5168

As of January 29, 2001

Title:  An act relating to technology fees.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions regarding technology fees at institutions of higher education.

Sponsors:  Senators Shin, Sheahan, Franklin, Rasmussen, Costa, Horn, Prentice, Brown, Morton, Fairley, Constantine, McCaslin, McAuliffe and Kohl‑Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/1/01.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff:  Jean Six (786‑7423)

Background:  In 1996, the Legislature adopted 2SHB 2293 allowing each of the public baccalaureate institutions to establish a student technology fee with the written consent of its student government association.  The fee must be used exclusively for technology resources for general student use.  Before establishing a technology fee, the institution must provide to the student government association a list of similar fees.  The governing board and the association must ensure that student fees for technology are not duplicative.  The student government association approves an annual plan for expending revenue from the fee.

Technology fee is defined as a fee used to help pay for services to students that include access to the Internet and the World Wide Web, computer and multimedia laboratories and work stations, software, and dial-up telephone services.

According to statute, during the 1996-97 academic year, any technology fee charged to a full-time student may not exceed $120; the fee is prorated for part-time students.  Changes in the amount of the fee must be approved by both the student government association and the institution=s governing board.  The student government association may abolish the fee by a majority vote.

Of any revenue raised by the fee, 3.5 percent must be deposited in the institution=s local financial aid fund.  Institutions may waive the technology fee for teaching and research assistants working 20 or more hours per week.

Currently, there are 23 of the 34 community and technical colleges assessing student technology fees under the provisions of RCW 28B.15.051.  Some community college students have asked for their institutions to be named explicitly in the statute.  In addition, they are requesting a state match of up to $450,000 per campus of each Washington public higher education institution.

Summary of Bill:  The community colleges and technical colleges are included in the statute allowing governing boards, with the written consent of the student government association, to establish a student technology fee.

Following one year of collection and expenditure of the technology fee, institutions are eligible for a state match on a dollar-for-dollar basis to a maximum of $450, 000.

Of any state match, 3.5 percent must be deposited in the institution=s local financial aid fund.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 15, 2001.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.