FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1307

                     Synopsis as Enacted

                         C 302 L 93

 

Brief Description:  Reauthorizing and modifying the Washington service corps.

 

By House Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Locke, Eide, Silver, Dunshee, L. Johnson, Pruitt, Brough, Sheldon, Jones, Long, Franklin, Talcott, J. Kohl, Wood, Lemmon, Jacobsen, Wang, Leonard, Quall, Rayburn and King).

 

House Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Trade, Technology & Economic Development

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

 

Background:  The Washington Service Corps (WSC) was created by the Legislature in 1983.  The Department of Employment Security administers the program.  The WSC provides unemployed and out-of-school youth, between 18 and 26 years of age, with temporary jobs that benefit the youth's local community.  The goal of the program is to enhance the employability of these youth while addressing unmet local community needs.

 

Participants serve for six months and receive a stipend, health insurance, training, and eligibility for a scholarship if the participant completes the full six months.  The scholarship is equivalent to one year's tuition at a community or technical college.  The scholarship must be used within two years.  The program allows for a six month extension of service.

 

At least 60 percent of the projects must be in distressed areas.

 

The WSC expires July 1, 1993.

 

Summary:  The six month service period for the Washington Service Corps, and possible six month extension, is replaced with a service period not to exceed 11 months.  The post-service scholarship is changed from one year to two years.  The scholarship is only available to those who complete the 11 month service period, must be started within one year of completing the service period, and must be used within four years of completing the service period.  A scholarship account is created in the state treasury.

 

The commissioner may enroll youth 14 to 17 years of age on special projects during the summer and at other times of the year that may compliment their school curriculum.

 

The July 1, 1993 expiration of the WSC is repealed.

 

Votes on Final Passage:

 

House  95 0

Senate 46 0 (Senate amended)

House            (House refused to concur)

 

Conference Committee

 

Senate 43 0

House  98 0

 

Effective:  July 1, 1993