H-1723              _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 980

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Cole, Unsoeld and Rust

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to environmental education; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes that the environment of this state represents a valuable aesthetic, ecological, and economic resource.  To protect, enhance, and sustain this resource it is necessary to provide environmental and conservation education to both the general public and resource agency personnel.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a task force composed of agency representatives, educators, legislators, and concerned citizens to:  (1) Establish a definition of environmental literacy; (2) identify existing environmental and conservation education resources in the public and private sector; and (3) conduct a needs assessment to determine how to maximize use of existing environmental education resources and to provide for future needs.

          The task force shall report its findings to the appropriate standing committees in the house of representatives and the senate responsible for education issues and the committees responsible for environmental issues during the regular legislative session in 1986.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of .......... dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the period ending June 30, 1986, from the general fund to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the expenses of the task force under this act.