Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA… Two of Sen. Matt Boehnke’s pro-education bills have cleared the first deadline for legislation to move forward from policy committees in the Senate.

“Both of these bills will allow our higher-education system to accommodate more students to be successful as they move beyond the K-12 level,” Boehnke said. “They will remove barriers for these students to access the top-quality higher education our institutions offer.”

Senate Bill 5542 is about accommodating more enrollment in high-school completion programs at community and technical colleges. The bill, passed by the Senate’s higher-education committee, would expand tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges by removing the requirement that students be 19 years of age or older to qualify. The Senate Rules Committee now will decide if SB 5422 is eligible for a vote by the full Senate.

The second bill, Senate Bill 5543, would extend eligibility for College Bound Scholarships to students who have received a high school-equivalency certificate. Following its passage by the Senate education committee, the bill is now being considered by the Senate Ways and Means Committee because it would require a budget appropriation.

“These bills will bring a new level of fairness and equity for students across Washington to continue their education journey,” said Boehnke. “We know that more opportunities for students will lead to more success in their adult lives. Earning a degree or taking college-level classes will lead to a more educated workforce.”

Both measures have bipartisan sponsorship and were introduced in cooperation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

“Not every student learns the same way, and a lot of kids find success in different types of learning environments. Smaller classes, a more fluid learning pace, and online access work really well for some students, and these bills will give kids better access to more scholarships and financial resources to be successful as adults.”

The next deadlines for action on legislation are this Friday, the “cutoff” for bills with financial implications to be moved out of fiscal committees, and March 12, the “house of origin” cutoff, meaning bills must be passed in their originating chamber to remain active.

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