SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5796

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Higher Education, March 3, 2003

Ways & Means, March 10, 2003

Title: An act relating to itemized tuition statements at institutions of higher education.

Brief Description: Requiring itemized tuition statements.

Sponsors: Senators Mulliken, Kohl-Welles, Carlson, Schmidt and Shin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 2/27/03, 3/3/03 [DPS].

Ways & Means: 3/7/03, 3/10/03 [DPS (HIE)].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5796 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: Jean Six (786-7423)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5796 as recommended by Committee on Higher Education be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Rossi, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Doumit, Fairley, Hale, Honeyford, Johnson, Parlette, Roach, Sheahan, and Winsley.

Staff: Karen Barrett (786-7711)

Background: Since 1993, institutions of higher education have been required to provide information to students on the approximate amount of the state's contribution to the students' education. The information is developed by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), and since 1997 has been provided at the beginning of each academic term through one or more of the following means: registration materials, class schedules, tuition and fee-billing packets, student newspapers, or through e-mails or kiosks.

Summary of Bill: The institutions are required to post the level of state subsidy in any location or on any document that includes the students' level of tuition and fees. Students are told they may request an itemization of fees at any time.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The itemized tuition statement is not required but may be requested.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For (Higher Education): Multiple methods for registration exist at each campus, thus requiring multiple methods for displaying information. Students still do not know how much the taxpayers provide toward their education. Each student is subsidized; full cost of a college education is not covered by tuition. It is important for students to be reminded they may ask for an itemized tuition statement. WSL likes this up front approach to tuition billing and GFS subsidy. Students prefer the original bill.

Testimony Against (Higher Education): None.

Testified (Higher Education): Senator Joyce Mulliken, prime sponsor; David Ecklund Grayum, WSL, CWU; Chris Reykdal, SBCTC.

Testimony For (Ways & Means): None.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means): None.

Testified (Ways & Means): No one.