HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1764

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to voluntary community service.

Brief Description:  Encouraging common schools serving students in grades seven through twelve to offer opportunities for students to do volunteer community service.

Sponsors:  Representatives Basich, Dorn, Carlson, Jacobsen, Wood, Roland, Karahalios, Eide, Brumsickle, G. Cole, Rayburn, G. Fisher, Leonard, Linville, Wineberry, Kremen, Pruitt, Brough, Wang, Quall, Flemming, Johanson, L. Johnson, J. Kohl, H. Myers, Hansen, Patterson and Anderson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 25, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; G. Fisher; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Stevens; and Vance.

Staff:  Shirley Leckman (786-7291).

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 and interactions between the school environment and other segments of society.

Summary of Bill:  Common schools, grades seven through 12, are encouraged to annually offer an opportunity to students to volunteer their services to organizations that provide social, health, environmental, educational and governmental services.  The organizations include hospitals, nursing homes, food banks, day care centers, day care providers, recyclers, energy conservation agencies, state and local government offices.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education are directed to prepare recommendations and guidelines for programs involving students in volunteer service in the community.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The program created by this bill not only creates good citizenship, but is also a prevention program.  Many young people like the feeling of helping others.  Surveys show that the obstacles to volunteerism include lack of time, knowledge, and transportation.  This program would provide these elements to students.  President Clinton supports such efforts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Basich, sponsor; Representative Kohl; and Joby Winans, Washington State Center for Volunteerism and Community Service.