HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1278
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. |
As Passed House:
February 12, 2020
Title: An act relating to room and board for college bound scholarship students.
Brief Description: Concerning room and board for college bound scholarship students.
Sponsors: Representatives Hudgins, Valdez, Sells, Bergquist, Appleton, Slatter, Wylie, Santos and Doglio.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
College & Workforce Development: 1/30/19, 2/8/19 [DP];
Appropriations: 2/28/19 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/6/19, 59-37.
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/12/20, 61-34.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COLLEGE & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Hansen, Chair; Entenman, Vice Chair; Leavitt, Vice Chair; Bergquist, Paul, Pollet, Ramos, Rude, Sells, Slatter and Sutherland.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Van Werven, Ranking Minority Member; Gildon, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Graham, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kraft and Young.
Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 23 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Caldier, Chandler, Cody, Dolan, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hudgins, Jinkins, Macri, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Ryu, Senn, Springer, Stanford, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tarleton and Tharinger.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dye, Hoff, Kraft, Schmick, Steele and Ybarra.
Staff: Zane Potter (786-7349).
Background:
The College Bound Scholarship.
The College Board Scholarship (CBS) program was established in 2007 to provide guaranteed four-year tuition to students from low-income families. The first CBS awards were granted to the graduating high school class of 2012. Eligible students for the CBS include those who:
qualify for free or reduced-price lunches in the seventh grade and eighth grade; or
are dependent from parents or guardians, or are receiving extended foster care services; and
are in grades 7 through 12; or
are between the ages of 18 and 21 years and have not graduated from high school.
A student may also be eligible if they were a dependent who was adopted between the ages of 14 and 18 with a negotiated adoption agreement that includes continued eligibility in the CBS program.
Beginning in the seventh grade, eligible students are notified of their eligibility and the requirements for award of the scholarship. To be eligible to receive the CBS, a student must sign a pledge during the seventh or eighth grade that includes a commitment to graduate from high school with at least a C-average and no felony convictions.
To receive the CBS, the student must graduate having fulfilled the CBS pledge requirements. Upon graduation, the student's family income will be assessed and if it does not exceed 65 percent of the state median family income, the student will receive a scholarship. The CBS recipients that attend public two-year or four-year institutions of higher education receive an award to cover the cost of tuition and fees, minus any state-funded grant, scholarship, or waiver assistance, plus $500 for books and materials. The student must maintain satisfactory academic progress and may not receive the scholarship for more than four full-time years.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.
The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act) requires local school districts to identify homeless students and provide them with support. Under the McKinney-Vento Act homeless children are defined as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The McKinney-Vento Act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition, including children and youth who are:
sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative accommodations;
living in emergency or transitional shelters;
abandoned in hospitals;
awaiting foster care placement;
living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or bus or train stations; and
migratory and live in one of the above situations.
Summary of Bill:
Public institutions of higher education that offer on-campus housing options must provide a one-year waiver for on-campus housing to eligible students on a space available basis. Eligible students are first-year CBS recipients who, upon graduation from high school, are considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. The student needs to inform the institution of their eligibility for the waiver when accepting admittance for the fall term in order to receive the waiver.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (College & Workforce Development):
(In support) There are a number of homeless CBS students who face many challenges to graduate from high school, get into college, and pay for tuition, but then they do not have housing. The state does so much for the K-12 population, but once kids get to college the state does not do as much. The state needs to provide all the supports it can for these students to help them stay in college and persist.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) The institutions recognize that there are vulnerable populations, and that homeless students are at the greatest risk. The institutions provide a variety of resources, including food pantries, meal plans, and housing when possible. If the state does not provide adequate resources for this legislation, it could negatively impact other students on campus. On-campus housing is a self-supported enterprise, and this may cause the costs to shift to other students.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations):
(In support) The state provides more resources for K-12 students than for students going to college. This bill would offer support to college students and help them graduate. This bill would help college students experiencing homelessness get the resources they need. It would help students continue in college and graduate.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) The state needs to provide adequate resources to support students experiencing homelessness at colleges and universities. Without adequate funding, this program would negatively impact other students who are dependent on university housing. University housing is supported by enterprise fees and, without adequate funding, this bill may shift costs to other students.
Persons Testifying (College & Workforce Development): (In support) Representative Hudgins, prime sponsor; and Charles Adkins, Geoduck Student Union.
(Other) Cody Eccles, Council of Presidents.
Persons Testifying (Appropriations): (In support) Charles Adkins, The Evergreen State College Geoduck Student Union.
(Other) Cody Eccles, Washington State Council of Presidents.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (College & Workforce Development): None.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations): None.