HB 1051-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

      Prescribes the information to be furnished to the secretary of state for registration.

      Directs the secretary of state to provide information and assistance to public school districts regarding international student exchange visitors.

      Establishes procedures to handle complaints regarding the operations of the organizations.

      Provides that it is a misdemeanor offense for violation of the provisions of the act.

      Directs the secretary of state to adopt standards for the organizations.

      Takes effect January 1, 1992.

VETO MESSAGE ON HB 1051-S

                        May 10, 1991

To the Honorable, the House

  of Representatives of

  the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 12, Substitute House Bill No. 1051 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to international student exchange programs."

      This bill takes a first step toward regulating organizations involved in international student exchange activities in Washington by requiring that these organizations register with the Office of the Secretary of State.  In addition, the Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to notify school districts of the names of international student exchange organizations that have registered with the state.  I concur with the need to provide greater accountability by establishing standards and providing public access to certain basic information regarding such organizations.

      Section 12 of the bill requires the Secretary of State to establish a task force on international student exchange and requires the task force to examine a list of specific issues related to international student exchange programs.  No funding was provided for the task force in either the House or Senate proposed budgets.  Both the Secretary of State and the Superintendent of Public Instruction have authority to establish ad-hoc committees to study issues under their respective jurisdictions.  Should the task force actually receive funding in the coming biennium, either official has the capacity to respond by convening a group with the broad membership outlined in this section.

      For the reasons stated above, I have vetoed section 12 of Substitute House Bill No. 1051.

      With the exception of section 12, Substitute House Bill No. 1051 is approved.

                        Respectfully submitted,

                        Booth Gardner

                        Governor