SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1607

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Higher Education, March 30, 1995

Title:  An act relating to international education.

Brief Description:  Creating opportunities for international education.

Sponsors:  Representatives Van Luven, Carlson, Sheldon, Wolfe and B. Thomas.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  3/16/95, 3/30/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Bauer, Chair; Kohl, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, McAuliffe, Prince and Wood.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background:  In 1993, the Legislature established the Washington Task Force on International Education and Cultural Exchanges.  The purposes of the task force include making recommendations on ways to improve and expand international education and cultural exchanges.  The Task Force submitted final recommendations in November, 1994.

The Task Force recommends the creation of a new International Exchange Scholarship Program.  The program would provide opportunities for Washington State students to study abroad, and opportunities for students from countries that are trade partners with Washington State to study in Washington State.

The Task Force recommends the creation of an International Students Internship Program.  Students who participate in the program would be given credit towards their degree for their international internship.

Summary of Amended Bill: The International Exchange Scholarship Program is created.  The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), with assistance from leaders in business, international trade, and education must annually award one-year scholarships to international students from countries that are trade partners with Washington State, if money is available.  A student who receives a scholarship must agree to speak to or teach groups of Washington citizens.

The HECB must convene an advisory committee for the program, publicize the program, solicit public and private funds for the program, and adopt rules to implement the program.  The HECB may enter agreements with countries that have students attending colleges and universities in Washington State to allow Washington students to study abroad in similar programs.

A trust fund is created for state money appropriated for the program.  An endowment fund is created for money received from private donations and other sources.  When the amount of private cash donations in the endowment fund is equal to the state money in the trust fund, the state money must be transferred into the endowment fund.  The interest from the endowment fund must be used to provide International Exchange Scholarships.  The principal of the endowment fund must not be invaded.

The HECB is required to establish an advisory committee to help design an International Students Internship Program.  The program provides credit for Washington State students who complete internships within countries that are trading partners of Washington State.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Technical corrections are made.  It is clarified that:  (1) scholarship eligibility requires the student to be from a county that has a trade relationship with Washington State, not just with the United States; (2) the State Treasurer has custody of the private funds in the endowment fund, but has no other administrative duties; and (3) the interest earnings are credited to the endowment fund; not to the treasurer's trust fund.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The Secretary of State's Office supports this bill.  There should be no fiscal impact. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ralph Munro, Secretary of State.