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                                          ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 5110

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                                                                            C 465 L 87

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Gaspard, Bauer, Bailey, Bender, Patterson, Smitherman, Warnke, Saling, Anderson, Zimmerman, Kiskaddon, Rinehart, Garrett, von Reichbauer and Moore

Read first time 1/15/87 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to tuition and fee waivers; amending RCW 28A.58.822; reenacting and amending RCW 28B.15.543; and creating a new section.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 2, chapter 54, Laws of 1981 and RCW 28A.58.822 are each amended to read as follows:

          There is established by the legislature of the state of Washington the Washington state scholars program.  The purposes of this program annually are to:

          (1) Provide for the selection of three seniors graduating from high schools in each legislative district who have distinguished themselves academically among their peers.

          (2) Maximize public awareness of the academic achievement, leadership ability, and community contribution of Washington state public and private high school seniors through appropriate recognition ceremonies and events at both the local and state level.

          (3) Provide a listing  of the Washington scholars to all Washington state public and private colleges and universities to facilitate communication regarding academic programs and scholarship availability.

          (4) Make available a state level mechanism for utilization of private funds for scholarship awards to outstanding high school seniors.

          (5) Provide, on written request and with student permission, a listing of the Washington scholars to private scholarship selection committees for notification of scholarship availability.

(6) Permit a waiver of tuition and services and activities fees as provided for in RCW 28B.15.543.

        Sec. 2.  Section 17, chapter 278, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 16, chapter 341, Laws of 1985 and by section 68, chapter 370, Laws of 1985 and by section 30, chapter 390, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28B.15.543 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

          (((1))) The boards of regents and trustees of the regional universities, state universities, ((and)) The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges shall waive tuition and service and activities fees for ((two  years for)) recipients of the Washington scholars award under RCW 28A.58.820 through 28A.58.830 for undergraduate studies.  To qualify for the waiver, recipients shall enter the college or university within three years of high school graduation and maintain a minimum grade point average at the college or university equivalent to ((3.50.

          (2) The higher education coordinating board shall report to the legislature on or before January 15, 1986, on the tuition waivers for the Washington scholars program.  The report shall include an evaluation and recommendations on the effect of extending the waivers for a period of four years)) 3.30.  Students shall be eligible for waivers for a maximum of twelve quarters or eight semesters and may transfer among state institutions of higher education during that period and continue to have the tuition and services and activities fees waived by the state institution of higher education that the student attends.  Should the student's cumulative grade point average fall below 3.30 during the first three quarters or two semesters, that student may petition the higher education coordinating board which shall have the authority to establish a probationary period until such time as the student's grade point average meets required standards.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The amendments to RCW 28B.15.543 by section 2 of this act shall apply to persons holding the Washington scholars award as of the effective date of this section as well as persons holding the award after the effective date of this section.