SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5319

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 4, 1997

Title:  An act relating to vocational student leadership organizations.

Brief Description:  Requiring the superintendent of public instruction to maintain support for the state‑wide coordination of vocational student leadership organizations.

Sponsors:  Senators Hochstatter, Rasmussen, Swecker, Bauer, Sheldon, Goings, McAuliffe, Benton and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/28/97, 3/4/97 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Hochstatter, Chair; Finkbeiner, Vice Chair; Goings, Johnson, McCaslin, Rasmussen and Zarelli.

Staff:  Karen Carter (786-7424)

Background:  Vocational student leadership organizations are designed to foster student interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills within each vocational-technical program area as part of the overall instructional program.  Such organizations may have state and national units which serve vocational programs at the local level.

There are five statewide vocational student leadership organizations whose primary role is to develop leadership skills for students enrolled in vocational technical education programs in schools and skill centers.  The organizations are Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, Future Homemakers of America, Distributive Education Clubs of America, and Vocational Industrial Clubs of America.

The vocational-technical and adult services division within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction administers the approval process for vocational-technical programs and distributes federal and state funds.  The division also provides technical services for adult basic, industrial arts, career education, educational centers, and community school programs.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature recognizes the necessity of maintaining and promoting vocational student leadership organizations as an integral component of vocational-technical education programs.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction must continue to support and coordinate vocational student leadership organizations statewide for vocational-technical programs, including:

CAgriculture;

CBusiness;

CFamily and consumer services;

CMarketing/diversified occupations;

CTrade/industrial;

CTechnical education; and

CHealth.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction may contract with independent vocational student leadership organizations and coordinators.  State general funds are appropriated to support these efforts for the 1997-99 biennium.

Appropriation:  $200,000

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 19, 1997.

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

Testimony For:  Support for state-level planning and coordination of regional and national vocational students leadership events is vital and increasingly difficult for the OSPI to accomplish, without increasing student dues, due to reductions in federal aid.  This small investment has a positive effect on thousands of Washington students lives:  it boosts their confidence and inspires academic excellence to reach career goals. Washington should reward students who make constructive use of their after-school hours by supporting the activities made possible through vocational student leadership organizations.    

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified: PRO:  Marion Salcedo, Washington State Future Business Leaders of America; Hillary Falk, Washington FFA; Dan Goodell, VICA; Hope Smith, DECA; Gene Forrester, retired state director of agriculture education; Jean Ameluxen, OSPI.