BILL REQ. #:  S-3957.1 

Read first time 01/16/08.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to tuition and fee exemptions; amending RCW 28B.15.100; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.15.100 and 2003 c 232 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in section 2 of this act, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges shall charge to and collect from each of the students registering at the particular institution for any quarter or semester such tuition fees and services and activities fees, and other fees as such board shall in its discretion determine. The total of all fees shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount: PROVIDED, That such tuition fees shall be established in accordance with RCW 28B.15.067.
     (2) Part-time students shall be charged tuition and services and activities fees proportionate to full-time student rates established for residents and nonresidents: PROVIDED, That except for students registered at community colleges, students registered for fewer than two credit hours shall be charged tuition and services and activities fees at the rate established for two credit hours: PROVIDED FURTHER, That, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, residents of Idaho or Oregon who are enrolled in community college district number twenty for six or fewer credits during any quarter or semester may be exempted from payment of all or a portion of the nonresident tuition fees differential upon a declaration by the higher education coordinating board that it finds Washington residents from the community college district are afforded substantially equivalent treatment by such other states.
     (3) Full-time students registered for more than eighteen credit hours shall be charged an additional operating fee for each credit hour in excess of eighteen hours at the applicable established per credit hour tuition fee rate for part-time students: PROVIDED, That, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities and the community colleges may exempt all or a portion of the additional charge, for students who are registered exclusively in first professional programs in medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, doctor of pharmacy, or law, or who are registered exclusively in required courses in vocational preparatory programs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:
     A student at a state university, regional university, The Evergreen State College, or community college shall be exempt from tuition fees for the first two academic years after initial enrollment if the student:
     (1) Is a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012 at the time of initial registration at the institution;
     (2) Registers at the institution within eight months after meeting high school graduation requirements in accordance with state board of education rules or receiving a certificate of educational competence under the rules established by the state board of education under RCW 28A.305.190; and
     (3) Continues to make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certification.