SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5659

               AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 16, 1993

Brief Description:  Regulating the Washington service corps.

SPONSORS: Senators Prentice, Owen, Sellar, Bauer, Franklin, Moyer, Moore, Prince, Snyder, Sutherland, Fraser, Winsley, M. Rasmussen and von Reichbauer; by request of Employment Security Department

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Cantu, Fraser, Newhouse, Pelz, Prince, Sutherland, Vognild, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Patrick Woods (786‑7430)

Hearing Dates: February 26, 1993; March 2, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Service Corps was established in 1983 to assist young adults between 18 and 25 years of age in obtaining valuable work experience in both public and nonprofit agencies.  The stated goal of the corps is to "renew an ethic of civic responsibility in Washington State by engaging young adults in challenging community service projects that address immediate local needs."

During the corps ten year history 3,100 young adults have been enrolled, which has resulted in 2.8 million hours of community service.

In 1991 the corps received a $1.75 million grant from the Commission on National and Community Service.  The purpose of the grant program was to provide beneficial teamwork experience for individuals between 15 and 21 years during the summer months and along with year around services to individuals of 18 to 25 years of age. 

The Service Corps is scheduled to terminate on July 1, 1993.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Service Corps is reauthorized and removed from a termination schedule. 

The Washington Service Corps is authorized to enroll youth 14 to 17 years of age on special projects during the summer and for special projects that link community service with learning opportunities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The Service has been providing valuable work experience to youth throughout the state.  In addition, the program has assisted local government and nonprofit agencies in fulfilling the mandate to provide community services.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Daniel A. Yager, Derek Hanson, Clark County Fire District #11 (pro); Bill Basl, Washington Service Corps, Department of Employment Security (pro); Ron Baze, Nisqually School District (pro); Connie Brown, Cities in Schools (pro)