PRESS RELEASE

  Republican National Hispanic Assembly
  of Washington State

Washington State Senate holds hearings on Higher Education bills of interest to the Hispanic community.

For Immediate Release
Jan. 24, 2002

OLYMPIA Washington. Before a large audience, the Washington State Senate Higher Education Committee today held a public hearing on two Senate Republican proposals that would expand access to higher education institutions in Washington for many Hispanic people living in the state.

Senate Bill 6235 would expand the definition of resident student as it relates to tuition at colleges and universities. Senate Bill 6367 would expand residency as it relates to tuition at higher education institutions.

Under current state law, some children who are not citizens or permanent residents but have attended and graduated from a Washington high school are required to pay the higher nonresident tuition rate at a Washington public university or college. 

Several Hispanic students and citizens testified in favor of the measures during the hearing.

Dr. Pedro Celis, chairman of the Washington State Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) said: "I applaud the leadership of Senator Honeyford (R-Sunnyside) and Senator Carlson (R-Vancouver) for introducing these two Senate Bills, which would expand the education opportunities of the Hispanic children in our state. This is an issue of great interest in the Hispanic community as 40% of Hispanics in our state are under the age of 18 and education is the key to their success".

The Texas legislation passed a similar bill last year with the support and endorsement of the Texas Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

"In our rural areas, we have a great need for this type of legislation," said Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla.. "Our mobile farm workers' children are a part of our community and should be afforded an equal opportunity to gain a college education."

"Education is the key to improving the lives of our young people," said Sen. Larry Sheahan, R-Spokane. "This legislation will make higher education affordable for hundreds of very deserving students." 

Under SB 6367, a student who has graduated from a Washington high school, or received the equivalency of a high school diploma, and resided with his or her parent, guardian or conservator while attending high school would be allowed to pay resident tuition at Washington public universities or colleges if the student has resided in Washington for at least five years as of the date he or she graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.

To qualify for resident status under SB 6367, students must register as an entering student at the university or college no earlier than the 2002 fall semester and provide the university or college with an affidavit stating that they will file an application to become a permanent resident as soon as they are eligible to do so.

Ms. Rosita Romero, the chairwoman of the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said during her testimony that the Chamber runs a very successful scholarship program and several very deserving Washington students that have  been awarded scholarships have not able to redeem it as the out-of-state tuition prevents them from pursuing their educational opportunities.

Others that testified in favor of this legislation included Rebecca Torres Valdovinos, president of the Washington Association for the Education of Speakers of other Languages, Lydia Ledesma-Reese and Ricardo Sanchez of the Latino Educational Achievement Project (LEAP) and Greg Gourgley director of New Americans of Washington.

"These students have excelled and are the future leaders of our state" said Ricardo Sanchez, director of LEAP. "We are glad to see that the Senators agree that continuing their education is a good investment for our community."

Contact Information:
        Linda Kirk
        Washington RNHA Communications Director
        (425) 503-0568
        communications@wrnha.org