CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
HOUSE BILL 1943
Chapter 178, Laws of 2024
68th Legislature
2024 Regular Session
WASHINGTON NATIONAL GUARD POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM—
MODIFICATION
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 2024
Passed by the House March 5, 2024 CERTIFICATE
Yeas 96 Nays 0
I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the
House of Representatives of the
LAURIE JINKINS State of Washington, do hereby
Speaker of the House of certify that the attached is HOUSE
Representatives BILL 1943 as passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate on
the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the Senate March 1, 2024
Yeas 49 Nays 0 BERNARD DEAN
Chief Clerk
DENNY HECK
President of the Senate
Approved March 19, 2024 9:44 AM FILED
March 19, 2024
Secretary of State
JAY INSLEE State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
 HOUSE BILL 1943
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed Legislature - 2024 Regular Session
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By Representatives Leavitt, Jacobsen, Ryu, Rule, Christian, Couture,
Bronoske, Slatter, Chambers, Reeves, Reed, Graham, Timmons, Orwall,
Paul, Riccelli, and Shavers
Prefiled 12/14/23. Read first time 01/08/24. Referred to Committee
on Postsecondary Education & Workforce.
1 AN ACT Relating to the Washington national guard postsecondary
2 education grant program; amending RCW 28B.103.010, 28B.103.020, and
3 28B.103.030; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.103 RCW.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5 Sec. 1. RCW 28B.103.010 and 2022 c 68 s 1 are each amended to
6 read as follows:
7 ((Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the)) The
8 definitions in this section apply throughout this ((section and RCW
9 28B.103.020 and 28B.103.030)) chapter unless the context clearly
10 requires otherwise.
11 (1) "Dependent" means a person enrolled as a dependent in the
12 defense enrollment eligibility reporting system.
13 (2) "Eligible student" means a member of the Washington national
14 guard ((who attends an institution of higher education that is
15 located in this state and accredited by the Northwest Association of
16 Schools and Colleges, or an institution that is located in this state
17 that provides approved training under the Montgomery GI Bill, and
18 who)) or the spouse or dependent of, and designated by, a member who
19 agrees to fulfill his or her service obligation and meets any
20 additional selection criteria adopted by the office and all of the
21 following participation requirements:
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 1 (a) ((Enrolled)) Is enrolled in courses or a program that lead to
2 a postsecondary degree or certificate at an institution of higher
3 education located in the state and accredited by the Northwest
4 Association of Schools and Colleges, or an institution that is
5 located in the state that provides approved training under the
6 Montgomery GI Bill;
7 (b) Is an active drilling member, or the spouse or dependent of,
8 and designated by, an active drilling member. The member must be in
9 good standing in the Washington national guard as specified in rules
10 adopted by the office for implementation of the ((Washington national
11 guard postsecondary education)) grant;
12 (c) Has completed and submitted an application for student aid
13 approved by the office; and
14 (d) Is a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012((; and
15 (e) Agrees to fulfill his or her service obligation)).
16 (((2))) (3) "Forgiven" or "to forgive" or "forgiveness" means
17 either to render service in the Washington national guard in lieu of
18 monetary repayment, or to be relieved of the service obligation under
19 rules adopted by the office.
20 (((3))) (4) "Grant" means the Washington national guard
21 postsecondary education grant as established in RCW 28B.103.020.
22 (((4))) (5) "Maximum benefit" means the maximum grant a
23 Washington national guard member and the guard member's spouse and
24 dependents are eligible to receive.
25 (6) "Member" means a member of the Washington national guard who
26 has received, or whose spouse or dependent has received, a grant
27 under this chapter.
28 (7) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance
29 created in RCW 28B.76.090.
30 (((5))) (8) "Participant" means an eligible student who has
31 received a ((Washington national guard postsecondary education))
32 grant under this chapter.
33 (((6))) (9) "Service obligation" means ((serving)) an obligation
34 by the member to serve in the Washington national guard for a time
35 period of at least one year of service in the Washington national
36 guard for each year the ((student)) participant receives a
37 ((Washington national guard postsecondary education)) grant.
38 Sec. 2. RCW 28B.103.020 and 2022 c 68 s 2 are each amended to
39 read as follows:
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 1 Subject to amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the
2 Washington national guard postsecondary education grant program is
3 established. The program shall be administered by the office. In
4 administering the program, the powers and duties of the office shall
5 include, but need not be limited to:
6 (1) With the assistance of the Washington military department,
7 the selection of eligible students to receive the ((Washington
8 national guard postsecondary education)) grant as follows:
9 (a) An eligible student may receive a grant under this section to
10 help pay for postsecondary education program costs as approved by the
11 office. Grants may not:
12 (i) Exceed the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW
13 28B.92.030, plus $500 for books and supplies;
14 (ii) Exceed the ((student's)) participant's cost of attendance,
15 when combined with all other public and private grants, scholarships,
16 and waiver assistance the ((student)) participant receives; and
17 (iii) Result in reduction of a participant's federal or other
18 state financial aid.
19 (b) The Washington military department shall ensure that data
20 needed to identify eligible ((recipients)) students are promptly
21 transmitted to the office.
22 (c) The annual amount of each ((Washington national guard
23 postsecondary education)) grant may vary, but may not exceed the
24 annual cost of undergraduate tuition fees and services and activities
25 fees at the University of Washington, plus an allowance for books and
26 supplies.
27 (d) ((Washington national guard postsecondary education grant
28 eligibility)) The maximum benefit a single guard member, or a
29 combination of the guard member and the guard member's designated
30 spouse or dependents, may receive may not extend beyond ((five years
31 or one hundred twenty-five percent of the published length of the
32 program in which the student is enrolled)) six full-time years, or
33 the credit or clock-hour equivalent;
34 (2) The award of grants funded by federal and state funds,
35 private donations, or repayments from any participant who does not
36 complete the participant's service obligation;
37 (3) The adoption of necessary rules and policies, including
38 establishing a priority for eligible students attending an
39 institution of higher education located in this state that is
40 accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges;
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 1 (4) The adoption of participant selection criteria. The criteria
2 may include but need not be limited to requirements for: Satisfactory
3 academic progress, enrollment in courses or programs that lead to a
4 baccalaureate degree or an associate degree or a certificate, and
5 satisfactory participation as a member of the Washington national
6 guard;
7 (5) With the assistance of the Washington military department,
8 the notification of ((participants)) members of their additional
9 service obligation or required repayment of the ((Washington national
10 guard postsecondary education)) grant; and
11 (6) The collection of repayments from ((participants)) members
12 who do not meet the service obligations.
13 Sec. 3. RCW 28B.103.030 and 2020 c 297 s 3 are each amended to
14 read as follows:
15 (1) ((Participants in the Washington national guard postsecondary
16 education grant program)) Members incur an obligation to repay the
17 grant, with interest, unless they serve in the Washington national
18 guard for one year for each year they or their spouse or dependent
19 received the grant, under rules adopted by the office.
20 (2) The office shall adopt rules addressing the terms for
21 repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, ((and))
22 deferments, and appeals, by a ((participant)) member who does not
23 render service as a member of the Washington national guard necessary
24 to satisfy his or her service obligation.
25 (3) The office is responsible for collection of repayments made
26 under this section. The office shall exercise due diligence in such
27 collection, maintaining all necessary records to ensure that maximum
28 repayments are made. Collection and servicing of repayments under
29 this section shall be pursued using the full extent of law, including
30 wage garnishment if necessary. The office is responsible to forgive
31 all or parts of such repayments under the criteria established in
32 this section, and shall maintain all necessary records of forgiven
33 payments.
34 (4) Receipts from the payment of principal or interest paid by or
35 on behalf of participants shall be deposited with the office and
36 shall be used to cover the costs of administration of the grant,
37 maintaining necessary records, and making collections under
38 subsection (3) of this section. The office shall maintain accurate
39 records of these costs, and all receipts beyond those necessary to
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1 pay such costs shall be used to make grant awards to eligible
2 students.
3 NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28B.103
4 RCW to read as follows:
5 A guard member and the guard member's designated spouse and
6 dependents may simultaneously use the grant, subject to any rules
7 adopted by the office, and the limitation on the maximum benefit.
Passed by the House March 5, 2024.
Passed by the Senate March 1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor March 19, 2024.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 19, 2024.
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Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28B.103.010, 28B.103.020, 28B.103.030
Bill as Passed Legislature: 28B.103.010, 28B.103.020, 28B.103.030
Session Law: 28B.103.010, 28B.103.020, 28B.103.030