Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Higher Education Committee

HB 1654

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: Representatives Zeiger, Sells, Haler, Miloscia, Buys, Dammeier, Johnson, Dahlquist, Fagan, Warnick, Smith, Anderson and Kelley.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires four-year public institutions of higher education and community and technical colleges that offer applied baccalaureate degrees to charge those resident students who exceed 125 percent of credits needed to obtain their degree at a non-resident or graduate tuition rate for credits that exceed 125 percent.

Directs the Education Data Center at the Office of Financial Management to track the number of students that exceed 125 percent of credits needed to obtain their degree and report to the Legislature annually.

Background:

Current law (RCW 28B.10.695) permits institutions of higher education to charge a surcharge for excess credits when a student takes 125 percent or more of the credits needed to complete their degree.

In 2009-2010 public higher education institutions reported varying numbers of students who exceed 125 percent of credits needed to obtain their degree of between three percent and 12 percent. For the small number of students enrolling in applied baccalaureate degrees at community and technical colleges, the estimate is about eight percent of students who exceed 125 percent of the number of credits needed.

Summary of Bill:

The permission granted to higher education institutions to charge a surcharge for excess credits is replaced with a requirement to charge at non-resident or graduate tuition rates. Four-year public institutions of higher education and community and technical colleges that offer applied baccalaureate degrees are required to charge those resident students who exceed 125 percent of credits needed to obtain their degree at a non-resident or graduate tuition rate for credits that exceed 125 percent.

The Education Data Center at the Office of Financial Management must track the number of students that exceed 125 percent of credits needed to obtain their degree and report to the Legislature annually.