HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2611

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to voluntary community service.

Brief Description:  Requiring high schools to offer an elective course in which students volunteer for community service.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Tate, Rasmussen, P. Johnson, Brough, Carlson, Pruitt, Vance, Broback, Ferguson, Basich, Paris, Betrozoff, Chandler, Wynne and J. Kohl.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 6, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Peery, Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Broback; Brumsickle; Carlson; P. Johnson; J. Kohl; Neher; Rasmussen; Roland; and Valle.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative G. Cole.

Staff:  Margaret Allen (786-7191).

Background:  The role of schools in preparing students to be contributing members of society has been widely discussed.  One suggested way to ease a student's transition from school to society at large is to increase the connections between the school environment and other segments of the community.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  High schools are encouraged to annually offer an opportunity to students to volunteer their services to community social and educational organizations.

The organizations include hospitals, nursing homes, food banks, day care centers, health clinics, senior citizen centers, schools, civic organizations, state and local government offices, and other organizations that provide social, health, educational, and governmental services.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is required to prepare guidelines for use by schools in programs involving student volunteer service.  At a minimum, the guidelines must include information: (1) to assist a school in choosing whether volunteer activity should be discretionary, a non-credit requirement for graduation, or count as course credit; (2) about requirements for volunteer service to count as credit toward graduation; (3) about certificated endorsement requirements, if any, of supervisory educators or others; (4) about the respective responsibilities of a school and its community contacts; and (5) about scheduling, transportation, supervision and liability issues.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill encourages high schools to offer an opportunity to students to be community volunteers, whereas the original bill required high schools to offer an elective course in which students could be community volunteers.

The substitute bill also requires SPI to prepare guidelines for use by schools in programs involving student volunteer service, whereas the original bill imposed no such requirement.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  An elective course in which students may volunteer in the community  would increase the links between the school and community while providing an enriching experience for students.  Such a course would foster a lifelong habit of helping others.  Experience in helping someone in need is beneficial to the volunteer.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Randy Tate, prime sponsor (supports); Erin Irey, Stacy Peterson, Jeanna Long, and D'Anna Valenti, student Sumner Key Club members (support); and Loren Lawrence, Sumner High School (supports, concerned about possible school transportation obligation).