S-0988.2 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5552
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Senators Carlson, Kohl‑Welles, Hale, B. Sheldon, Hewitt, Sheahan, Shin, Zarelli, Parlette and Horn
Read first time 01/26/2001. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
AN ACT Relating to border county higher education opportunities; amending RCW 28B.80.805, 28B.80.806, and 28B.15.0139; and repealing 1999 c 320 s 6 (uncodified).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 28B.80.805 and 1999 c 320 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The legislature finds that certain tuition policies in Oregon state are more responsive to the needs of students living in economic regions that cross the state border than the Washington state policies. Under Oregon policy, students who are Washington residents may enroll at Portland State University for eight credits or less and pay the same tuition as Oregon residents. Further, the state of Oregon passed legislation in 1997 to begin providing to its community colleges the same level of state funding for students residing in bordering states as students residing in Oregon.
(2) The legislature
intends to build on the recent Oregon initiatives regarding tuition policy for
students in bordering states and to facilitate regional planning for higher
education delivery by creating a ((pilot)) project on resident tuition
rates in ((four)) Washington counties that border Oregon state.
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.80.806 and 2000 c 160 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The border county
higher education opportunity ((pilot)) project is created. The purpose
of the ((pilot)) project is to allow ((four)) Washington institutions
of higher education that are located in ((four)) counties on the Oregon
border to implement, on a trial basis, tuition policies that correspond to
Oregon policies. Under the border county ((pilot)) project, Columbia
Basin Community College, Clark Community College, Lower Columbia Community
College, Grays Harbor Community College, and ((Clark)) Walla Walla
Community College may enroll students who reside in the bordering Oregon
counties of Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas,
Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Washington at
resident tuition rates. The Tri-Cities and Vancouver ((branch)) branches
of Washington State University may enroll students who reside in the bordering
Oregon counties of Columbia, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow,
Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Washington for eight credits or less at
resident tuition rates.
(2) Washington
institutions of higher education participating in the ((pilot)) project
shall give priority program enrollment to Washington residents.
Sec. 3. RCW 28B.15.0139 and 2000 c 160 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
For the purposes of determining resident tuition rates, "resident student" includes a resident of Oregon, residing in Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington county, who meets the following conditions:
(1) The student is
eligible to pay resident tuition rates under Oregon laws and has been domiciled
in Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow,
Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington county for at least
ninety consecutive days immediately before enrollment at a community college
located in Asotin, Benton, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Franklin,
Garfield, Klickitat, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, or ((Pacific)) Walla
Walla county, Washington; or
(2) The student is enrolled in courses located at the Tri-Cities or Vancouver branch of Washington State University for eight credits or less.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. 1999 c 320 s 6 (uncodified) is repealed.
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