SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6164

As Passed Senate, February 11, 2004

Title: An act relating to allowing a student who is a military dependent to maintain residency status if the person on active military duty is reassigned out-of-state.

Brief Description: Concerning residency status of military dependents.

Sponsors: Senators B. Sheldon, Shin, Kastama, Oke, Swecker, Franklin, Winsley, Rasmussen, Brown, Eide, Kohl-Welles, Haugen, Schmidt, Murray and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 2/2/04 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/11/04, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

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

Staff: Jean Six (786-7423)

Background: The state of Washington has a history of recognizing the special circumstances of residency for active duty members of the miliary and their spouses or dependents. For a number of years they were included in the waiver statutes but when waivers became permissive and variable, the Legislature decided to include them in the definition of resident for tuition paying purposes. Currently included in that definition are (1) a student who is on active military duty stationed in Washington or who is a member of the Washington National Guard, (2) a student who is the spouse or dependent of a person who is on active military duty stationed in the state, and (3) a student who resides in Washington and is the spouse or dependent of a person who is a member of the Washington National Guard.

Summary of Bill: Included in the definition of resident student for tuition paying purposes is a student who remains continuously enrolled in a degree program even when the person on active military duty is reassigned out-of-state.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 20, 2004.

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

Testimony For: The state of Washington will now be in conformity with other states. The Department of Defense is looking at base closures, and this initiative will put Washington in a positive light. Active duty military deserve your consideration.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Senator Betti Sheldon, prime sponsor; Deb Merle, Governor's Office; Kathleen Connolly, Fort Lewis.

House Amendment(s): "Active military duty" is defined for the purpose of resident tuition eligibility by the same criteria as used by the State Department of Veterans' Affairs. The Coast Guard and Merchant Marines are included when they are called into active duty military service.