The bill amends RCW 28B.15.520 to expand tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges in Washington. It allows governing boards to waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for students aged 19 or 20 who are eligible for resident tuition rates and are enrolled in programs aimed at completing their high school education. The bill also specifies that the waiver applies to nonresident students of the same age under similar conditions, while removing the previous stipulation that these students must not be defined as eligible students under RCW 28A.600.405.

Additionally, the bill mandates that tuition and fees be waived for children and surviving spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, or Washington state patrol officers who have died or become totally disabled in the line of duty. The definition of "totally disabled" is clarified, and the governing boards are required to report the annual costs of these waivers to the state board for community and technical colleges, which will then consolidate the reports for the legislature. The bill also increases the percentage of students eligible for waivers in the regional education program for deaf students from 30% to 40%, contingent on federal funding.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28B.15.520