HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6142

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: Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Liias, Randall, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Mullet, Nguyen, Stanford, Carlyle and Wilson, C.; by request of Lieutenant Governor).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

College & Workforce Development: 2/25/20, 2/27/20 [DP];

Appropriations: 3/2/20 [DP].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Requires the public four-year higher education institutions (institutions) to enroll in the same preexisting online common application for use in admitting students by the 2022-23 academic year.
Permits the institutions to adopt a second preexisting online common application.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Hansen, Chair; Entenman, Vice Chair; Leavitt, Vice Chair; Van Werven, Ranking Minority Member; Gildon, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Graham, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Kraft, Mead, Paul, Pollet, Ramos, Rude, Sells, Slatter and Sutherland.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 33 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Chandler, Chopp, Cody, Corry, Dolan, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hoff, Hudgins, Kilduff, Kraft, Macri, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Ryu, Schmick, Senn, Springer, Steele, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tarleton, Tharinger and Ybarra.

Background:

Higher education institutions have authority to determine individual admissions policies and procedures. This includes creation of an application form for admission and setting an application fee. Application fees for prospective undergraduate students range from $50 to $80 at public higher education institutions (institutions) in Washington. Most institutions have application fee waivers available for certain students. In addition, some institutions are members of college websites that include free, online college planning tools, such as college essay writing prompts, and a common application form. For example, the University of Washington is a member of Coalition for College and The Evergreen State College is a member of the Common App.

Summary of Bill:

Subject to appropriation, the public four-year higher education institutions must all enroll in the same preexisting online common application for use in admitting students by the 2022-23 academic year. The preexisting online common application adopted must include more than 500 institutional participants and have an established fee waiver process for low-income students. An institution may adopt a second preexisting online common application, as long as the application includes more than 100 institutional participants and has an established fee waiver process for low-income students.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (College & Workforce Development):

(In support) There is support for the version of the bill before the committee if it is funded. There is also support for an approach that would be less expensive by allowing institutions to use the preexisting online common application that the institution is already enrolled in. Overall, the institutions support the idea of a preexisting online common application as it may increase the number of applicants. However, there will be a need for additional staff in application offices to handle the increase of applicants. The preexisting online common application would be used in addition to current institutional applications, not in place of.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations):

(In support) None.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying (College & Workforce Development): Joe Dacca, University of Washington; and David Buri, Eastern Washington University.