SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6236

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, February 5, 1998

Title:  An act relating to the Washington service scholars program.

Brief Description:  Creating the Washington service scholars program.

Sponsors:  Senators Jacobsen, Kohl, Wood, McAuliffe, Winsley and Patterson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  1/26/98, 2/5/98 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

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

  Signed by Senators Wood, Chair; Winsley, Vice Chair; Bauer, Hale, Kohl, Patterson, B. Sheldon and West.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7433)

Background:  The National Service Scholars program recognizes high school students for outstanding community service.  The Corporation for National Service is offering matching $500 scholarships for students who receive local scholarships for community service.  About $3 million in matching funds was available for 1997. 

Summary of Bill:  The Washington service scholars program, administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), is created to honor at least three graduating high school seniors in each legislative district who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their schools or communities. The names are submitted to the HECB by the Washington Association of School Principals. 

The HECB must work cooperatively with secondary school principals in developing the program.  To develop criteria for selecting the award recipients, the HECB must create a planning committee including but not limited to representatives of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Council of  Presidents, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and of volunteer organizations having an interest in and responsibility for education and community service. 

Recipients of the award who choose to attend either public or private Washington higher education institutions may receive grants not to exceed $1,000 when money is available.  Grants for students attending a private institution must be matched on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis by the private institution.

Appropriation:  $73,500.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 19, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  The request is modeled on a program operating in Minnesota.  Community service is a valuable student experience that needs recognition.  Active volunteers are essential to a healthy community.  We want to honor students who make an effort to provide community service.  While the National Service Corporation makes this a portable award, we would need to make it clear to recipients that Washington students must apply it only to Washington institutions, either public or private.  The award will help Washington students gain access to the matching scholarships.

The Washington Service Corps and the Washington Conservation Corps make Washington a leader in these kinds of programs with over 1200 people providing service.  

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO: Senator Ken Jacobsen, prime sponsor; Melissa Chiechi, WSU, WSL; Michael Novick, Bill Basl, WA Commission for National and Community Service.