BILL REQ. #:  S-4682.1 

READ FIRST TIME 01/24/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to tuition and fee waivers for veterans' families; amending RCW 28B.15.621 and 28B.15.385; and reenacting and amending RCW 28B.15.910.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.15.621 and 2007 c 450 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that active military and naval veterans, reserve military and naval veterans, and national guard members called to active duty have served their country and have risked their lives to defend the lives of all Americans and the freedoms that define and distinguish our nation. The legislature intends to honor active military and naval veterans, reserve military and naval veterans, and national guard members who have served on active military or naval duty for the public service they have provided to this country.
     (2) Subject to the limitations in RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for an eligible veteran or national guard member.
     (3) The governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for a military or naval veteran who is a Washington domiciliary, but who did not serve on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters and who does not qualify as an eligible veteran or national guard member under subsection (8) of this section. However, there shall be no state general fund support for waivers granted under this subsection.
     (4) Subject to the conditions in subsection (5) of this section, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, shall waive all tuition and fees for the following persons:
     (a) A child and the spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member who became totally disabled, as defined in RCW 28B.15.385 ((while engaged)), as a result of serving in active federal military or naval service, or who is determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing in action; and
     (b) A child and the surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member who lost his or her life ((while engaged)) as a result of serving in active federal military or naval service.
     (5) The conditions in this subsection (5) apply to waivers under subsection (4) of this section.
     (a) A child must be a Washington domiciliary between the age of seventeen and twenty-six to be eligible for the tuition waiver. A child's marital status does not affect eligibility.
     (b)(i) A surviving spouse must be a Washington domiciliary.
     (ii) Except as provided in (b)(iii) of this subsection, a surviving spouse has ten years from the date of the death, total disability ((as defined in RCW 28B.15.385)), or federal determination of prisoner of war or missing in action status of the eligible veteran or national guard member to receive ((the)) benefits under the waiver. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse is ineligible for the waiver of all tuition and fees.
     (iii) If a death results from total disability, the surviving spouse has ten years from the date of death in which to receive benefits under the waiver.
     (c) Each recipient's continued participation is subject to the school's satisfactory progress policy.
     (d) Tuition waivers for graduate students are not required for those who qualify under subsection (4) of this section but are encouraged.
     (e) Recipients who receive a waiver under subsection (4) of this section may attend full-time or part-time. Total credits earned using the waiver may not exceed two hundred quarter credits, or the equivalent of semester credits.
     (6) Required waivers of all tuition and fees under subsection (4) of this section shall not affect permissive waivers of tuition and fees under subsection (3) of this section.
     (7) Private vocational schools and private higher education institutions are encouraged to provide waivers consistent with the terms in subsections (2) through (5) of this section.
     (8) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
     (a) "Eligible veteran or national guard member" means a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge.
     (b) "Totally disabled" means a person who has been determined to be one hundred percent disabled by the federal department of veterans affairs.
     (c) "Washington domiciliary" means a person whose true, fixed, and permanent house and place of habitation is the state of Washington. "Washington domiciliary" includes a person who is residing in rental housing or residing in base housing. In ascertaining whether a child or surviving spouse is domiciled in the state of Washington, public institutions of higher education shall, to the fullest extent possible, rely upon the standards provided in RCW 28B.15.013.
     (9) As used in subsection (4) of this section, "fees" includes all assessments for costs incurred as a condition to a student's full participation in coursework and related activities at an institution of higher education.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.15.385 and 2007 c 450 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purposes of RCW 28B.15.380((,)) and 28B.15.520((, and 28B.15.621)), the phrase "totally disabled" means a person who has become totally and permanently disabled for life by bodily injury or disease, and is thereby prevented from performing any occupation or gainful pursuit.

Sec. 3   RCW 28B.15.910 and 2007 c 522 s 948 and 2007 c 450 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) For the purpose of providing state general fund support to public institutions of higher education, except for revenue waived under programs listed in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, and unless otherwise expressly provided in the omnibus state appropriations act, the total amount of operating fees revenue waived, exempted, or reduced by a state university, a regional university, The Evergreen State College, or the community colleges as a whole, shall not exceed the percentage of total gross authorized operating fees revenue in this subsection. As used in this section, "gross authorized operating fees revenue" means the estimated gross operating fees revenue as estimated under RCW 82.33.020 or as revised by the office of financial management, before granting any waivers. This limitation applies to all tuition waiver programs established before or after July 1, 1992.
     (a) University of Washington       21 percent
     (b) Washington State University       20 percent
     (c) Eastern Washington University       11 percent
     (d) Central Washington University       10 percent
     (e) Western Washington University       10 percent
     (f) The Evergreen State College       10 percent
     (g) Community colleges as a whole       35 percent
     (2) The limitations in subsection (1) of this section apply to waivers, exemptions, or reductions in operating fees contained in the following:
     (a) RCW 28B.15.014;
     (b) RCW 28B.15.100;
     (c) RCW 28B.15.225;
     (d) RCW 28B.15.380;
     (e) RCW 28B.15.520;
     (f) RCW 28B.15.526;
     (g) RCW 28B.15.527;
     (h) RCW 28B.15.543;
     (i) RCW 28B.15.545;
     (j) RCW 28B.15.555;
     (k) RCW 28B.15.556;
     (l) RCW 28B.15.615;
     (m) RCW 28B.15.621 (2) and (3);
     (n) RCW 28B.15.730;
     (o) RCW 28B.15.740;
     (p) RCW 28B.15.750;
     (q) RCW 28B.15.756;
     (r) RCW 28B.50.259; and
     (s) RCW 28B.70.050.
     (3) The limitations in subsection (1) of this section do not apply to waivers, exemptions, or reductions in services and activities fees contained in the following:
     (a) RCW 28B.15.522;
     (b) RCW 28B.15.540;
     (c) RCW 28B.15.558; and
     (d) RCW 28B.15.621(3) ((and (4))).
     (4) The total amount of operating fees revenue waived, exempted, or reduced by institutions of higher education participating in the western interstate commission for higher education western undergraduate exchange program under RCW 28B.15.544 shall not exceed the percentage of total gross authorized operating fees revenue in this subsection.
     (a) Washington State University       1 percent
     (b) Eastern Washington University       3 percent
     (c) Central Washington University       3 percent
     (5) The institutions of higher education will participate in outreach activities to increase the number of veterans who receive tuition waivers. Colleges and universities shall revise the application for admissions so that all applicants shall have the opportunity to advise the institution that they are veterans who need assistance. If a person indicates on the application for admissions that the person is a veteran who is in need of assistance, then the institution of higher education shall ask the person whether they have any funds disbursed in accordance with the Montgomery GI Bill available to them. Each institution shall encourage veterans to utilize funds available to them in accordance with the Montgomery GI Bill prior to providing the veteran a tuition waiver.