Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee
HB 2019
Brief Description: Establishing a Native American apprentice assistance program.
Sponsors: Representatives Stearns, Fosse, Berry, Ryu, Ramos, Ramel, Cortes, Morgan, Simmons, Reed, Ormsby, Peterson, Callan, Timmons, Kloba, Street, Donaghy, Gregerson, Orwall, Goodman, Ortiz-Self, Lekanoff, Riccelli, Reeves, Santos, Hackney, Pollet and Davis.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Establishes the Native American Apprentice Assistance Program.
Hearing Date: 1/16/24
Staff: Elizabeth Allison (786-7129).
Background:

Office of Student Financial Assistance.
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (Office) operates within the Washington Student Achievement Council.  The Office administers state and federal financial aid and other education service programs.

Financial Aid Applications.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a federal financial aid application used to determine a student's eligibility for federal financial aid.
Summary of Bill:

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Native American Apprentice Assistance Program (Program) is established.  The Office must administer the Program.  Administration duties include publicizing the Program, awarding assistance to eligible participants, and adopting rules and guidelines for the Program in consultation with tribes and state-registered apprenticeship programs.  The Office must determine awarding priorities and award amounts.  Funding must be prioritized to cover any tuition costs for related supplemental instruction, and additional funding may be used to cover required supplies, tools, materials, work clothing, and living expenses.


To be eligible, a participant must be a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the United States, must file a FAFSA, and must be enrolled in a state-registered apprenticeship program.

 

The Native American Apprentice Assistance Account is created in the custody of the state treasurer.  All receipts for the Program must be deposited in the account and expenditures may only be used for the Program.  Only the Director of the Office may authorize expenditures from the Account.

 

The Office must submit a report on the Program to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature beginning December 1, 2025.  The report must include:

  • the total number of eligible participants and the number of participants who received a grant;
  • the amount that the Office determined the grant amount to be;
  • how the Office determined what the grant amount should be; and
  • how many members of federally recognized Indian tribes in Washington received a grant versus members of federally recognized Indian tribes from other states.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 11, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.