HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5431
As Passed House:
April 5, 2021
Title: An act relating to creating the Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship.
Brief Description: Creating the Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship.
Sponsors: Senators Randall, Nobles, Cleveland, Conway, Das, Dhingra, Frockt, Hasegawa, Keiser, Hunt, Honeyford, Holy, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Padden, Robinson, Stanford and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
State Government & Tribal Relations: 3/11/21, 3/15/21 [DP];
Appropriations: 3/22/21, 3/25/21 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 4/5/21, 95-3.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Establishes the Rosa Franklin Legislative Internship Program Scholarship, administered by the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.
  • Creates the Rosa Franklin Legislative Internship Program Scholarship Account in the custody of the State Treasurer, where contributions received from gifts and grants must be deposited and used solely for the scholarship.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL RELATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 6 members:Representatives Valdez, Chair; Lekanoff, Vice Chair; Volz, Ranking Minority Member; Dolan, Graham and Gregerson.
Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by 1 member:Representative Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.
Staff: Desiree Omli (786-7105).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 33 members:Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Bergquist, Vice Chair; Gregerson, Vice Chair; Macri, Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; Chambers, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Corry, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boehnke, Caldier, Chandler, Chopp, Cody, Dolan, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Hansen, Harris, Hoff, Jacobsen, Johnson, J., Lekanoff, Pollet, Rude, Ryu, Schmick, Senn, Springer, Steele, Stonier, Sullivan and Tharinger.
Staff: Heidi Cao (786-7157).
Background:

Rosa Franklin.
Senator Rosa Franklin served the 29th Legislative District as a member of the House of Representatives from 1991–1993, and a member of the Senate from 1993–2011.  While in the House of Representatives, she served on the Housing, Commerce and Labor, Health Care, and Local Government Committees.  In the Senate, she served on various committees including Human Services and Corrections, Health and Long-Term Care, and Labor and Workforce Development.  During Senator Franklin's time in the Senate, she held leadership positions such Democratic Whip, Majority Whip, and served twice as President Pro Tempore.  Senator Franklin was the first African American woman to be elected to the Washington State Senate.
 
Senator Franklin sponsored legislation that created the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities, supported the passage of the Washington Housing Policy Act, and worked on environmental equity and anti-discrimination issues.  Senator Franklin was also appointed by President Clinton to serve on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.
 
Prior to joining the Legislature, Senator Franklin was heavily engaged in the community on the local level.  Senator Franklin had a 42-year career as a nurse and was actively involved in professional nursing associations.  Her experiences showed her how health care for minority communities was intertwined with civil rights which led her to advocate for social justice.  She was appointed to serve on several Tacoma governing committees, such as the Pierce County Health Council. 

 

Senator Franklin is an alumna of both the University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University.  She obtained a women's health care specialist certificate from the University of Washington and received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Puget Sound.  She was inducted into the Washington State Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and received the inaugural Senator Rosa Franklin award from the Foundation for Healthy Generations.  Senator Franklin is also the recipient of the 2019 Legacy Dream Award from the University of Washington Tacoma, which is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the university community in the areas of diversity, social justice, or civil rights.  An oral history of Senator Franklin was recently completed and published by the Washington State Legislative Oral History Program. 
 
Legislative Internship Program.
Through the Legislative Internship Program, the Washington State Legislature offers full-time internship positions each legislative session for college and university students.  Most of these positions are undergraduate policy internships, where students work in Olympia as staff for members of the House of Representatives or Senate.  Interns are matched with the offices of legislators or caucus staff based on their skills and interests.  Interns complete a variety of projects such as corresponding with constituents, tracking legislation, and conducting legislative research.
Summary of Bill:

The Rosa Franklin Legislative Internship Program Scholarship is established.  Washington students who are accepted into and participate in the Legislative Internship Program of the Senate and House of Representatives may qualify based on financial need.
 
The Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives are authorized to administer and conduct the scholarship, including soliciting and accepting gifts and grants.  Any legislative member or employee may also solicit contributions.
 
The Rosa Franklin Legislative Internship Program Scholarship Account is created in the custody of the State Treasurer.  Funds received from gifts or grants must be deposited into the account and may only be used for the scholarship.  The Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives must adopt joint rules to govern and protect the receipt and expenditure of the proceeds.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (State Government & Tribal Relations):

(In support) A lot of people are needed to keep up with the volume of legislative work, and interns are vital to that process and to member offices.  The Legislative Internship Program creates opportunities for students who may want to pursue a career in the Legislature or assist in the legislative process.  Many students are unable to participate because of financial barriers such as session housing and obtaining business attire.  This scholarship will broaden the program, increasing representation in the program and ensuring that rural and urban students and first-generation college students can participate and contribute their personal experiences and diverse backgrounds.  It will make the internship program more equitable and accessible to marginalized groups and low-income students.
 
After much community discussion, the decision to name this scholarship after Senator Rosa Franklin is because she represents what the scholarship is intended to achieve.  Senator Franklin had a grace about her and commanded the room.  She had the tremendous respect of her peers and was able to disagree agreeably.  When people think of service, leadership, and honor, Senator Franklin comes to mind.  She has been committed to public service, and her civic activity is an inspiration to many Washingtonians.

 

(Opposed) None.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations):

(In support) None.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying (State Government & Tribal Relations): Senator Randall, prime sponsor; Sophie Parker, Washington Student Association; Mike Hoover, Mike Hoover Public Affairs; and Deanna George.
Persons Testifying (Appropriations): None.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (State Government & Tribal Relations): None.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations): None.