H-1898.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2037

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Gombosky, Veloria, Kastama, Wolfe, Carrell, Dunshee, Cooper, Murray, Quall, Lantz, Chopp, Mason, Kessler, Keiser, Blalock, Conway, Cole, Costa, Anderson and Doumit

Read first time 02/18/97.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Encouraging high schools to provide opportunities for students to volunteer services to community social and educational organizations.

    AN ACT Relating to voluntary community service; adding new sections to chapter 28A.230 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the education of our children must include not only academic and technical skills and knowledge, but also the development of character and an understanding of our common responsibilities as members of our society and democracy.  One method for building character and teaching responsibility in our students is to encourage them to volunteer in community social, governmental, and educational organizations.  Increasing the level of student volunteerism will strengthen the relationship between schools and communities, expand instructional effectiveness, strengthen the bonds between young people and adults, and provide enriching, rewarding experiences for students.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:

    Every high school in the state is encouraged to offer annually the opportunity for students to volunteer their services to community social and educational organizations.  Community social and educational organizations include hospitals, nursing homes, food banks, day care organizations, state and local government offices, and other organizations that provide social, health, educational, and governmental services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall prepare guidelines for use by schools in programs involving student volunteer service in the community.

    (2) At a minimum, the guidelines must include information of assistance to schools in the following areas:

    (a) If a school chooses to offer opportunities for volunteer activity, whether volunteer activity should be discretionary on the part of the individual student, a noncredit requirement for graduation, or count as course credit toward graduation;

    (b) Requirements for volunteer service to count as credit toward graduation;

    (c) Certificated endorsement requirements, if any, of supervisory educators or others;

    (d) The respective responsibilities of a school and its community contacts, including supervision of a student volunteer;

    (e) Liability issues;

    (f) Scheduling; and

    (g) Transportation.

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