SB 6274-S2 - DIGEST
(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Establishes the passport to careers act.

Creates the passport to careers program to: (1) Encourage foster youth and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness to complete higher education or a registered apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program;

(2) Improve high school graduation outcomes of the youth through coordinated P-20 and child welfare outreach, intervention, and planning; and

(3) Improve postsecondary outcomes by providing the youth with planning, information, support, and direct financial resources.

Creates a passport to apprenticeship opportunities program.

Requires the office of student financial assistance to: (1) Identify students and applicants who are eligible for services through coordination of certain agencies;

(2) Provide financial assistance through nongovernmental entities for registered apprenticeship and recognized preapprenticeship entrance requirements and occupational-specific costs that does not exceed the individual's financial need;

(3) Extend financial assistance to an eligible applicant for a maximum of six years after first enrolling with a registered apprenticeship or recognized preapprenticeship, or until the applicant turns twenty-six, whichever occurs first;

(4) Design and implement passport to careers with two programmatic pathways: (a) The passport to college promise program; and (b) the passport to apprenticeship opportunities program;

(5) Contract to provide certain services to disadvantaged populations seeking to complete apprenticeships and preapprenticeships through the passport to apprenticeship opportunities program;

(6) Contract with at least one nongovernmental entity to provide services to support effective program implementation, resulting in increased postsecondary completion rates for passport scholars; and

(7) Define a process for verifying unaccompanied homeless status for determining eligibility.

Repeals the June 30, 2022, expiration of chapter 28B.117 RCW (the passport to college promise program).

Requires the department of social and health services and the department of children, youth, and families, with input from the superintendent of public instruction, to devise and implement procedures for: (1) Identifying students and applicants eligible for services; and

(2) Sharing that information with the office, institutions of higher education, and certain nongovernmental entities.