SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5189

As Passed Senate, March 16, 2003

Title: An act relating to tuition and fees charged at institutions of higher education to military and naval veterans of the Korean conflict.

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 2/10/03, 3/3/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/16/03, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5189 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Carlson, Chair; Schmidt, Vice Chair; Horn, Kohl-Welles, Mulliken, B. Sheldon and Shin.

Staff: Dario de la Rosa (786-7484)

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 of Bill: 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.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Korean Conflict veterans fought valiantly and served their country with pride. Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans may receive tuition waivers from the higher education institutions. However, no such provision exists for Korean Conflict veterans. This bill would allow the higher education institutions final decision whether or not to grant the waiver.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Senator Don Benton, prime sponsor (pro).