Z-0672.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5770
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Senators Kohl‑Welles, Jacobsen and Horn; by request of Governor Locke
Read first time 02/01/2001. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
AN ACT Relating to tuition setting authority and the use of tuition in higher education; amending RCW 28B.15.031, 28B.15.066, 28B.15.067, 28B.15.069, and 28B.15.100; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature to establish a permanent tuition policy for the state's public institutions of higher education. This policy recognizes that funding higher education is a shared responsibility of the state, the institutions of higher education, and the students and families served. This policy should maintain affordable tuition levels and predictable tuition rates so students and their families can plan and pay for access to public higher education. This policy should also extend tuition setting authority to institutions of higher education and the state board for community and technical colleges so they can respond to individual priority needs not addressed by the legislature. The legislature further intends that tuition revenue be used by each institution of higher education to provide student access to quality learning opportunities.
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.15.031 and 1996 c 142 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
The term
"operating fees" as used in this chapter shall include the fees,
other than building fees, charged all students registering at the state's
colleges and universities but shall not include fees for short courses,
self-supporting degree credit programs and courses, marine station work, experimental
station work, correspondence or extension courses, and individual instruction
and student deposits or rentals, disciplinary and library fines, which colleges
and universities shall have the right to impose, laboratory, gymnasium, health,
technology and student activity fees, or fees, charges, rentals, and other
income derived from any or all revenue producing lands, buildings and
facilities of the colleges or universities heretofore or hereafter acquired,
constructed or installed, including but not limited to income from rooms,
dormitories, dining rooms, hospitals, infirmaries, housing or student activity
buildings, vehicular parking facilities, land, or the appurtenances thereon, or
such other special fees as may be established by any college or university
board of trustees or regents from time to time. All moneys received as
operating fees at any institution of higher education shall be deposited in a
local account containing only operating fees revenue and related interest:
PROVIDED, That a minimum of three and one-half percent of operating fees shall
be retained by the institutions((, except the technical colleges,)) for
the purposes of RCW 28B.15.820. Local operating fee accounts shall not be
subject to appropriation by the legislature or allotment procedures under
chapter 43.88 RCW.
Sec. 3. RCW 28B.15.066 and 2000 c 152 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
It is the intent of the legislature that:
In making appropriations from the state's general fund to institutions of higher education, each appropriation shall conform to the following:
(1) The appropriation shall not be reduced by the amount of operating fees revenue estimated to be collected from students enrolled at the state-funded enrollment level specified in the omnibus biennial operating appropriations act;
(2) The appropriation
shall not be reduced by the amount of operating fees revenue collected from
students enrolled above the state-funded level((, but within the
over-enrollment limitations,)) specified in the omnibus biennial operating
appropriations act; and
(3) The general fund state appropriation shall not be reduced by the amount of operating fees revenue collected as a result of waiving less operating fees revenue than the amounts authorized under RCW 28B.15.910. State general fund appropriations shall not be provided for revenue foregone as a result of or for waivers granted under RCW 28B.15.915.
Sec. 4. RCW 28B.15.067 and 1997 c 403 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Tuition fees shall be established under the provisions of this chapter.
(2) ((Academic year
tuition for full-time students at the state's institutions of higher education
for the 1997-98 academic year, other than the summer term, shall be as provided
in this subsection.
(a) At the
University of Washington and Washington State University:
(i) For resident
undergraduate students and other resident students not in graduate, law, or
first professional programs, two thousand nine hundred eighty-eight dollars;
(ii)(A) For
nonresident undergraduate students and other nonresident students at the
University of Washington not in graduate, law, or first professional programs,
ten thousand two hundred seventy-eight dollars;
(B) For nonresident
undergraduate students and other nonresident students at Washington State
University not in graduate or first professional programs, nine thousand eight
hundred seventy dollars;
(iii) For resident
graduate students, four thousand eight hundred fifty-four dollars;
(iv) For nonresident
graduate students, twelve thousand five hundred eighty-eight dollars;
(v) For resident law
students, five thousand ten dollars;
(vi) For nonresident
law students, twelve thousand nine hundred fifteen dollars;
(vii) For resident
first professional students, eight thousand one hundred twelve dollars; and
(viii) For
nonresident first professional students, twenty-one thousand twenty-four
dollars.
(b) At the regional
universities and The Evergreen State College:
(i) For resident
undergraduate and all other resident students not in graduate programs, two
thousand two hundred eleven dollars;
(ii) For nonresident
undergraduate and all other nonresident students not in graduate programs,
eight thousand six hundred forty-six dollars;
(iii) For resident
graduate students, three thousand seven hundred twenty-six dollars; and
(iv) For nonresident
graduate students, eleven thousand nine hundred seventy-six dollars.
(c) At the community
colleges:
(i) For resident
students, one thousand three hundred eleven dollars; and
(ii) For nonresident
students, five thousand five hundred eighty-six dollars.
(3) Academic year
tuition for full-time students at the state's institutions of higher education
beginning with the 1998-99 academic year, other than the summer term, shall be
as provided in this subsection unless different rates are adopted in the
omnibus appropriations act.
(a) At the
University of Washington and Washington State University:
(i) For resident
undergraduate students and other resident students not in graduate, law, or
first professional programs, three thousand one hundred eight dollars;
(ii)(A) For
nonresident undergraduate students and other nonresident students at the
University of Washington not in graduate, law, or first professional programs,
eleven thousand one hundred thirty dollars;
(B) For nonresident
undergraduate students and other nonresident students at Washington State
University not in graduate or first professional programs, ten thousand two
hundred sixty-six dollars;
(iii) For resident
graduate students, five thousand forty-six dollars;
(iv) For nonresident
graduate students, thirteen thousand ninety-two dollars;
(v) For resident law
students, five thousand three hundred seventy-six dollars;
(vi) For nonresident
law students, thirteen thousand seven hundred eighty-two dollars;
(vii) For resident
first professional students, eight thousand four hundred thirty-six dollars;
and
(viii) For
nonresident first professional students, twenty-one thousand eight hundred
sixty-four dollars.
(b) At the regional
universities and The Evergreen State College:
(i) For resident
undergraduate and all other resident students not in graduate programs, two
thousand two hundred ninety-eight dollars;
(ii) For nonresident
undergraduate and all other nonresident students not in graduate programs,
eight thousand nine hundred ninety-one dollars;
(iii) For resident
graduate students, three thousand eight hundred seventy-six dollars; and
(iv) For nonresident
graduate students, twelve thousand four hundred fifty-six dollars.
(c) At the community
colleges:
(i) For resident
students, one thousand three hundred sixty-two dollars; and
(ii) For nonresident
students, five thousand eight hundred eight dollars.
(4) For the 1997-98
and 1998-99 academic years, the University of Washington shall use at least ten
percent of the revenue received from the difference between a four percent
increase in tuition fees and the actual increase charged to law students to
assist needy low and middle-income resident law students. For the 1997-98 and
1998-99 academic years, the University of Washington shall use at least ten
percent of the revenue received from the difference between a four percent
increase in tuition fees and the actual increase charged to nonresident
undergraduate students and all other nonresident students not in graduate, law,
or first professional programs to assist needy low and middle-income resident
undergraduate students and all other resident students not enrolled in
graduate, law, or first professional programs. This requirement is in addition
to the deposit requirements of the institutional aid fund under RCW 28B.15.820.
(5))) (a) For the 2001-02 academic year and each
academic year thereafter, the governing boards of the state universities, the
regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the state board for
community and technical colleges may reduce or increase full-time operating
fees for resident undergraduate students. Increases for resident undergraduate
students may be in excess of the fiscal growth factor but are limited to no
more than ten percent a year and no more than a total of forty percentage
points over any consecutive six-year period. Reductions or increases may be
made for all or portions of an institution's programs including but not limited
to time of day, day of the week, campus, program type, degree, and delivery
method.
(b) For the 2001-02 academic year and each academic year thereafter, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the state board for community and technical colleges may reduce or increase full-time operating fees for all students other than resident undergraduates, including summer school students. Increases may be in excess of the fiscal growth factor. Reductions or increases may be made for all or portions of an institution's programs including but not limited to time of day, day of the week, campus, program type, degree, and delivery method.
(3) Students receiving state need grants should not be deprived of access to higher education due to increases in tuition rates. The legislature shall retain the responsibility to appropriate funds to the state need grant program to support changes in overall program eligibility levels and increased enrollments. For academic year 2001-02, institutions of higher education must dedicate a portion of their revenues to support state need grants to need grant recipients. At a minimum, each institution of higher education shall dedicate sufficient revenues to need grants sufficient to maintain the ratio of total state need grant awards to students at that institution of higher education to total tuition charged those students receiving state need grants at that institution of higher education for the prior academic year. Revenues dedicated for institutional support of state need grant recipients shall be retained by each institution of higher education for support of students enrolled at that institution. Institutional expenditures of tuition revenues for need grants under chapter . . ., Laws of 2001 (this act) shall be in addition to tuition revenues contributed to the institutional financial aid fund required by RCW 28B.15.820 and in addition to tuition payments waived under RCW 28B.15.740. The institutions of higher education shall report to the higher education coordinating board on the financial aid paid according to this section in a manner determined by the board. This subsection does not apply after June 30, 2002.
(4) The tuition fees established under this chapter shall not apply to high school students enrolling in participating institutions of higher education under RCW 28A.600.300 through 28A.600.395.
Sec. 5. RCW 28B.15.069 and 1997 c 403 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) ((As used in
this section, each of the following subsections is a separate tuition category:
(a) Resident
undergraduate students and all other resident students not in first
professional, graduate, or law programs;
(b) Nonresident
undergraduate students and all other nonresident students not in first
professional graduate or law programs;
(c) Resident
graduate students;
(d) Resident law
students;
(e) Nonresident
graduate students;
(f) Nonresident law
students;
(g) Resident first
professional students; and
(h) Nonresident
first professional students.
(2) Unless the
context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this section "first
professional programs" means programs leading to one of the following
degrees: Doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of veterinary
medicine.
(3))) The building fee for each academic year shall
be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by
the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage
the building fee is of total tuition for each tuition category in the 1994-95
academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.
(((4))) (2)
The governing boards of each institution of higher education, except for the
technical colleges, shall charge to and collect from each student a services
and activities fee. A governing board may increase the existing fee annually,
consistent with budgeting procedures set forth in RCW 28B.15.045, by a
percentage not to exceed the annual percentage increase in student tuition fees
for the applicable tuition category: PROVIDED, That such percentage increase
shall not apply to that portion of the services and activities fee previously
committed to the repayment of bonded debt. The services and activities fee
committee provided for in RCW 28B.15.045 may initiate a request to the
governing board for a fee increase.
(((5))) (3)
Tuition and services and activities fees consistent with subsection (((4)))
(2) of this section shall be set by the state board for community and
technical colleges for community college summer school students unless the
community college charges fees in accordance with RCW 28B.15.515.
(((6))) (4)
Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, each governing board of a
community college may charge such fees for ungraded courses, noncredit courses,
community services courses, and self‑supporting courses as it, in its
discretion, may determine, consistent with the rules of the state board for
community and technical colleges.
Sec. 6. RCW 28B.15.100 and 1999 c 321 s 2 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)) established in
accordance with 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.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The office of financial management shall convene representatives from the public baccalaureate institutions, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the higher education coordinating board to identify options to address increases in the state need grant program related to operating fee increases and to make agreed-upon recommendations by November 1, 2001, to appropriate committees of the legislature.
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