This bill amends existing laws to provide tuition and fee waivers at public institutions of higher education for children of parents who were victims of homicide, in addition to existing provisions for children of law enforcement officers and firefighters who died or were disabled in the line of duty. Specifically, it allows children of homicide victims, who were residents of Washington at the time of the crime and subsequently involved in dependency proceedings, to receive waivers for a total of six academic years. The bill also clarifies the definition of "homicide" as per state law and maintains the existing provisions for surviving spouses of law enforcement and firefighting personnel.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the governing boards of state universities and community colleges report the annual costs associated with these waivers to the appropriate legislative committees. A new section is created to require the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to study the impact of these tuition waivers on educational and health outcomes, as well as legal incidents involving children of homicide victims. The study is to be completed by December 1, 2035, with a preliminary report due by December 1, 2031, and the section will expire on July 1, 2036.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28B.15.380, 28B.15.520