The Washington Senate passed a bill – with a vote of 41 to 3- that would make changes to Washington’s current Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program, in particular changes to the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment.

Senate Bill 5749, as passed by the Senate, would:

• Retain the provision that specifies the length of term for the members on the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment appointed by the Governor for four-year terms instead of an unspecified period of time and adds two additional representatives of private business appointed by the Governor, who must consider names from a list provided by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
• Add that the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment utilize the State Actuary in reviewing the Guaranteed Education Tuition Program rather than a national recognized actuary, but the Committee may, at its discretion, obtain an assessment by a national recognized actuary.
• Add that the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment utilize the State Actuary in planning and devising a college savings program, but the Committee may, at its discretion, obtain an evaluation from a lified actuarial consulting firm.
• Require the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment, with the State Actuary, to review the program in light of passage of E2SHB 1795 (higher education opportunity act) and to make any necessary changes to the program for units purchased on or after September 1, 2011.
• Establish a Legislative Advisory Committee to the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment to provide advice regarding the administration of the program.
• Remove all other provisions pertaining to new requirements after August 1, 2011.

 The bill now goes to the House for further consideration.