FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5189

C 160 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Waiving tuition and fees for veterans of the Korean conflict.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Benton, Swecker, Kohl-Welles, Shin, Stevens, Oke, Roach and Winsley).

Senate Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Higher Education

Background: The governing boards of the state's public higher education institutions may exempt veterans of the Vietnam conflict from any increase in student tuition or fees. The veterans shall not be required to pay more than the total amount of tuition and fees paid by students on October 1, 1977. To qualify for the exemption, the veteran must be a resident student and must have served in Southeast Asia during the time period between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975. Similar tuition exemptions exist for veterans who served in the Persian Gulf combat zone during 1991.

Summary: The governing boards of the state's public higher education institutions may waive all or a portion of tuition and services and activities fees for veterans of the Korean Conflict. In order to receive the waiver, veterans must have served on active duty in the military or naval forces of the United States any time between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955. Institutions are required to charge a registration fee of a least $5.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       47  0

House       98  0

Effective: July 27, 2003