BILL REQ. #:  H-0589.1 

Read first time 01/20/2005.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to eligibility for state financial aid for part-time students; amending RCW 28B.92.080; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that due in part to the high cost of attending college, a significant number of students attend higher education part time. The legislature further finds that more than one-quarter of students cannot qualify for financial aid due solely to their part-time status. Therefore, the legislature intends to expand eligibility for the state need grant to include some students who are enrolled on less than a half-time basis.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.92.080 and 2004 c 275 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:
     For a student to be eligible for a state need grant a student must:
     (1) Be a "needy student" or "disadvantaged student" as determined by the board in accordance with RCW 28B.92.030 (3) and (4).
     (2) Have been domiciled within the state of Washington for at least one year.
     (3) Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment ((on at least a half-time basis)) for at least four credit hours per quarter, or the semester or clock-hour equivalent as determined by the board, at an institution of higher education in Washington as defined in RCW 28B.92.030(1).
     (4) Have complied with all the rules and regulations adopted by the board for the administration of this chapter.