Brief Description: Expanding the definition of resident student for higher education purposes.

Sponsors: By Representatives Kenney, Cox, Fromhold, Jarrett, McIntire, Chandler, Miloscia, Quall, Sullivan, Veloria, Chase, Hunt, Pettigrew, Darneille, Conway, Cody, DeBolt, Delvin, Hudgins, Lantz, McDermott, Haigh, Kagi and Mastin.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill

• Expands the definition of "resident student" for purposes of tuition at public colleges and universities.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Kenney, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Cox, Ranking Minority Member; Priest, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Buck, Chase, Gombosky, Jarrett, Lantz, McCoy and Morrell.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Boldt, Clements and Condotta.

State law provides uniform standards for determining whether a student will be charged resident tuition or non-resident tuition at the state's public colleges and universities. The Higher Education Coordinating Board has responsibility for adopting rules for the institutions to use when making these determinations. Factors used to determine a student's eligibility for in-state tuition include:

• Whether the student is attending under a tuition agreement with another state.

Some Washington high school graduates who lack documentation of official United States residency status currently are charged non-resident tuition regardless of the length of time they have lived in the state. These students are not eligible for federal financial aid or loans. The difference between undergraduate resident and non-resident tuition rates per academic year varies from $5,200 at the state's community and technical colleges, to $7,700 at Washington State University, to $10,700 at the University of Washington.

The definition of "resident student" is expanded by creating an additional set of criteria by which a Washington high school graduate can qualify for in-state tuition. A student will qualify as a resident student for tuition purposes if he/she:

• Graduates from a Washington high school or obtains the equivalent of a diploma in Washington; and

• If the student is not a United States' citizen, he/she is required to file an application for permanent residency leading to citizenship and to engage in activities necessary to acquire citizenship prior to completing a certificate or degree program.

Effective Date: This bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The state's paramount duty principle has resulted in many students reaching their dreams and being college educated. But even those academically able are not financially able to go to college because of high non-resident tuition that acts as a roadblock to higher education.

The bill would make college attendance affordable to all students who have achieved academically in Washington's high schools. Many children in this state have lived here with their parents for years, since infancy or early childhood, and had no control over the circumstances that brought them here. Many undocumented families are in Washington because of a demand for their labor. Students who are the children of these laboring families should be given the opportunity for an affordable education and the opportunity to compete on the basis of academic potential. Many of them have achieved in high school despite significant obstacles. Fairness and equity require that we recognize the great drive and potential of these students to succeed and become taxpayers and positive role models.

Our communities include a mix of both documented and undocumented students whose only home is Washington. Immigrant families have been in these communities for years and this is a smart investment in the future of our state. Permitting high school graduates to continue their education at an affordable rate is a means of allowing individuals to break out of poverty and to return something to the community. Students currently in high school would be inspired to stay in school and to achieve academically if they knew they would be able to attend college afterward.

Providing education is one of the state's paramount duties, and the state makes a significant investment in the education of all students in the K-12 system. But when high schools send the message that college is important, it does not fit with the practice of charging non-resident tuition to the state's high school graduates. Many families can afford in-state tuition but cannot afford out-of-state tuition, which is sometimes two to three times as much. Students with no hope of ever affording college may have little incentive to do well in high school.

The bill would increase diversity and the quality of student populations at the colleges by broadening the ideas shared. Immigration laws often function as a barrier to these students becoming documented. Many families spend thousands of dollars and many years and still struggle with legal status.

Testified: Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Terry Bergeson, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Sam Reed, Secretary of State; Representative Chandler, 15th District;

Armando Munguia, Washington Student Lobby; Ben Medina, Washington Student Lobby;

Alexandra Narvaez, Associated Students, University of Washington; Dick Thompson, University of Washington; Ruben Carrera, Sunnyside School District; Barbara Mertens, Washington Association of School Administrators; Cindy Sands, Washington State School Directors Association; Antonio Ginatta, Commission on Hispanic Affairs; Reverend Paul Benz, Lutheran Public Policy Office; Michael Ramos, Washington Association of Churches; Ricardo Sanchez, Latino Education Achievement Project; Bruce Botka, Higher Education Coordinating Board; Rafael Ojeda, Central Latino; Debora Merle, Governor's Policy Office; Jane Yung Dennie, Washington State University; Tom Woodnutt, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; and Scott Copeland, Centralia College.