The provision reenacts and amends RCW 28B.92.200 to define and update the Washington college grant program, creating a statewide grant to provide free college for eligible participants. It is a modification of existing law that establishes a new benefit program and sets program rules and procedures; it does not create any new crimes or change criminal penalties. The office named in the statute is directed to implement and administer the program and may adopt rules, and the legislature is responsible for appropriating funding with allocations based on estimated eligible participants. Eligibility and program rules are specified. Grants are to be awarded beginning in the 2020-21 academic year to resident students who demonstrate financial need under RCW 28B.92.205, have not earned a baccalaureate or higher, file an annual financial aid application, and meet enrollment requirements (at least three quarter credits or equivalent, enrollment in approved registered apprenticeship programs, and beginning 2027-28, eligible postsecondary nondegree credential programs as determined by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in consultation with the Student Achievement Council). A high school pathway is included for certain 10th–12th graders whose household receives specified public assistance, with an expansion in 2025-26 to households receiving basic food or Washington food assistance. Eligibility is limited to no more than six years or 150 percent of the program length, recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress as established by the office, part-time awards are prorated, unused funds are returned to the state educational grant fund per institutional refund policies (with an exception referenced), and institutions must award all need-based aid for which students qualify. Administrative and implementation details affecting agencies are included but some important context is missing from this excerpt. The text repeatedly refers to “the office” and “the council” without defining those entities here. The criteria and rulemaking standards for eligible nondegree credential programs and the method for determining financial need under RCW 28B.92.205 are referenced but not provided in this chunk. Funding amounts, timelines for appropriations, and any other related statutory changes beyond RCW 28B.92.200 are not included.

If enacted, eligible Washington residents and certain Washington high school students from households receiving specified public assistance would be able to receive a Washington college grant that covers their postsecondary attendance costs starting in academic year 2020-21, with later expansions in 2025-26 to include high school students in households receiving basic food benefits and in 2027-28 to include students in certain nondegree credential programs. Recipients must apply annually, maintain satisfactory academic progress, may not already hold a bachelor’s degree, and are limited to six years or 150 percent of program length; part-time students get prorated awards and unused funds are returned to the state educational grant fund per institutional refund policies. The state legislature must appropriate funding, and a designated state office will implement and administer the program and adopt rules, so colleges, apprenticeship programs, and institutional aid administrators will have new ongoing responsibilities to verify eligibility, award and prorate grants, handle refunds, and consider modest family income increases (up to 3%) when renewing awards. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Student Achievement Council will decide which nondegree credentials qualify. Important details are missing here: the text does not specify which “office” and “council” are meant, how financial need is calculated beyond the cross-reference, or how much funding the legislature will provide, so the actual fiscal burden on institutions and the state remains unclear.