HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5742

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to the recruitment, preparation, and continuing education of vocational agriculture teachers.

Brief Description:  Establishing the Washington state vocational agriculture teacher recruitment program.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Hochstatter, McAuliffe and Loveland).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  3/21/95, 3/31/95 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Brumsickle, Chairman; Johnson, Vice Chairman; Cole, Ranking Minority Member; Clements; Dickerson; G. Fisher; Hatfield; McMahan; Quall; Talcott; B. Thomas and Veloria.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Smith.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  Washington has a rich agricultural history, and agriculture continues to be an important industry of the state.  However, the number of persons entering the field of vocational agricultural education is declining.  One way to reverse this decline is through a teacher recruitment program.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The State Board of Education (SBE) is directed to design a Washington State Vocational Agriculture Teacher Recruitment program.  The SBE must consult with the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the institutions of higher education, organizations interested in teacher recruitment or agriculture education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and the Department of Agriculture when designing the program.  The purpose of the program is to recruit students in grades 9-12, and adults who have entered other occupations to be future vocational agriculture teachers.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  A provision was deleted that would have required federal funds be used to pay for the recruitment program.  A null and void clause was added.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  Agricultural education is critical statewide, not just in rural areas.  There is a shortage of agricultural teachers.  Washington State University is the only college/university in the state that has an agricultural teacher training program.  We have to recruit teachers from out-of-state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Rasmussen, prime sponsor; Dennis Wallace, Voc/Ag teacher; Kathleen Lopp, Washington Vocational Association; and Larry Davis, State Board of Education.