This bill amends existing laws regarding tuition and fee waivers at public institutions of higher education in Washington State, specifically for children of murdered parents and other specified groups. It introduces a new provision that allows children of homicide victims, who were residents of the state at the time of the crime and subsequently involved in dependency proceedings, to receive tuition waivers for a total of six academic years. The bill also clarifies that "homicide" is defined as per RCW 9A.32.010. Additionally, it maintains existing provisions for children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and highway workers who lost their lives or became disabled in the line of duty, as well as for their surviving spouses.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the governing boards of state universities and community colleges report the annual costs of these waivers to the appropriate legislative committees. It also establishes a new section requiring the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to study the impact of these tuition waivers on children whose parents were homicide victims, focusing on educational, health, and legal outcomes. The final report on this study is due by December 1, 2035, with a preliminary report expected by December 1, 2031. The provisions of this section will expire on July 1, 2036.

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