BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the Washington service scholars program; adding new sections to chapter 28A.600 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.80 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Each year high schools in the state of Washington graduate a significant number of students who made major contributions to their schools and communities. The purpose of the Washington service scholars program is to recognize and honor the accomplishments and contributions of these students, to encourage students to continue to volunteer in their schools and communities, to encourage and facilitate privately funded scholarship awards, to provide an opportunity for higher education for these students, and to affirm the importance of community service to the future of this state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:

The Washington service scholars program is created. The program shall:

(1) Provide annually for the selection of a minimum of three seniors in each legislative district in the state graduating from high schools who have distinguished themselves in outstanding service in their schools or communities;

(2) Increase the public awareness of the importance of community service in Washington state of public and private high school seniors through appropriate recognition ceremonies and events at both the local and state level;

(3) Provide a listing of all Washington service scholars to all Washington state public and private colleges and universities to facilitate communication about academic programs and about scholarships;

(4) Create a state-level method for using private funds for scholarship awards to high school seniors with outstanding service in their schools and communities;

(5) Provide, on written request and with the permission of the student, a list of the Washington service scholars to private scholarship selection committees to notify the scholars about any available scholarships; and

(6) Permit grants under section 7 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:

The higher education coordinating board shall administer the Washington service scholars program. The program shall be developed cooperatively with the Washington association of secondary school principals, a voluntary professional association of secondary school principals, and with organizations promoting school and community service.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:

The higher education coordinating board shall create a planning committee to develop the criteria for selecting students for the Washington service scholars program. These criteria shall emphasize school and community service including but not limited to volunteer work for community organizations, service in schools, involvement in service-oriented school organizations, individual efforts to help others and improve the local community, and activities connected with service programs in the school district. The criteria shall require students to have spent a minimum of one year involved in community or school service. The planning committee shall include members from state and private entities having an interest in and responsibility for education and community service including but not limited to the superintendent of public instruction, the council of presidents, the state board for community and technical colleges, and representatives of volunteer organizations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:

Each year, on or before March 1st, the Washington association of secondary school principals shall submit to the higher education coordinating board the names of graduating senior high school students who have been identified and recommended by their high school principals as performing outstanding school or community service under the criteria established under section 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:

The Washington service scholars shall be selected each year from among the identified students. The higher education coordinating board shall notify the selected students, their high school principals, the legislators of their respective districts, the governor, and the superintendent of public instruction when the final selections have been made.

The board, in cooperation with the governor's office, shall prepare appropriate certificates to be presented to the Washington service scholars award recipients. An awards ceremony at an appropriate time and place shall be planned by the board in cooperation with the Washington association of secondary school principals and with the approval of the governor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Recipients of the Washington service scholars award under sections 2 through 6 of this act who choose to attend an independent college or university in this state, as defined in subsection (4) of this section, and recipients of the award who choose to attend a public college or university in the state may receive grants under this section if moneys are available. The higher education coordinating board shall distribute grants to eligible students under this section from moneys appropriated for this purpose. The individual grants shall not exceed, on a yearly basis, one thousand dollars. Grants to recipients attending independent institutions shall be contingent upon the institution matching on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis, either with actual money or by a waiver of fees, the amount of the grant received by the student from the state. The higher education coordinating board shall establish procedures, by rule, to disburse the awards as direct grants to the students.

(2) To qualify for the grant, recipients shall enter the in-state college or university within three years of high school graduation. Grants shall be awarded only during the first year of study at the college or university.

(3) No grant may be awarded to any student who is pursuing a degree in theology.

(4) As used in this section, "independent college or university" means a private, nonprofit educational institution, the main campus of which is permanently situated in the state, open to residents of the state, providing programs of education beyond the high school level leading at least to the baccalaureate degree, and accredited by the northwest association of schools and colleges as of June 30, 1998, and other institutions as may be developed that are approved by the higher education coordinating board as meeting equivalent standards as those institutions accredited under this section.

(5) As used in this section, "public college or university" means an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The sum of seventy-three thousand five hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the higher education coordinating board to provide service scholarships of not more than five hundred dollars to three students in each legislative district.