BILL REQ. #:  S-0158.1 

Read first time 01/15/2003.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to border county higher education opportunities; amending RCW 28B.80.805, 28B.80.806, 28B.80.807, and 28B.15.0139; repealing 2002 c 130 s 7 (uncodified); repealing 2002 c 130 s 6 and 1999 c 320 s 6 (uncodified); and repealing 2002 c 130 s 5 and 2000 c 160 s 4 (uncodified).

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.80.805 and 2002 c 130 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that certain tuition policies in Oregon state are more responsive to the needs of students living in economic regions that cross the state border than the Washington state policies. Under Oregon policy, students who are Washington residents may enroll at Portland State University for eight credits or less and pay the same tuition as Oregon residents. Further, the state of Oregon passed legislation in 1997 to begin providing to its community colleges the same level of state funding for students residing in bordering states as students residing in Oregon.
     (2) The legislature intends to build on the recent Oregon initiatives regarding tuition policy for students in bordering states and to facilitate regional planning for higher education delivery by creating a ((pilot)) project on resident tuition rates in Washington counties that border Oregon state.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.80.806 and 2002 c 130 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The border county higher education opportunity ((pilot)) project is created. The purpose of the ((pilot)) project is to allow Washington institutions of higher education that are located in counties on the Oregon border to implement tuition policies that correspond to Oregon policies. Under the border county ((pilot)) project, Columbia Basin Community College, Clark College, Lower Columbia Community College, Grays Harbor Community College, and Walla Walla Community College may enroll students who reside in the bordering Oregon counties of Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Washington at resident tuition rates. The Tri-Cities and Vancouver branches of Washington State University may enroll students who reside in the bordering Oregon counties of Columbia, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Washington for eight credits or less at resident tuition rates.
     (2) Washington institutions of higher education participating in the ((pilot)) project shall give priority program enrollment to Washington residents.

Sec. 3   RCW 28B.80.807 and 2002 c 130 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (((1))) The higher education coordinating board shall administer Washington's participation in the border county higher education opportunity ((pilot)) project.
     (((2) By December 1, 2003, the board shall report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature on the results of the pilot project. For each participating Washington institution of higher education, the report shall analyze, by program, the impact of the pilot project on: Enrollment levels, distribution of students by residency, and enrollment capacity. The report shall also include a recommendation on the extent to which border county tuition policies should be revised or expanded.))

Sec. 4   RCW 28B.15.0139 and 2002 c 130 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purposes of determining resident tuition rates, "resident student" includes a resident of Oregon, residing in Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington county, who meets the following conditions:
     (1) The student is eligible to pay resident tuition rates under Oregon laws and has been domiciled in Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington county for at least ((one year)) ninety days immediately before enrollment at a community college located in Asotin, Benton, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Franklin, Garfield, Klickitat, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, or Walla Walla county, Washington; or
     (2) The student is enrolled in courses located at the Tri-Cities or Vancouver branch of Washington State University for eight credits or less.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) 2002 c 130 s 7 (uncodified);
     (2) 2002 c 130 s 6 & 1999 c 320 s 6 (uncodified); and
     (3) 2002 c 130 s 5 & 2000 c 160 s 4 (uncodified).