H-3770.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2531

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Representatives Doumit, Huff, Morris, Schoesler, Linville, Cox, Grant, Haigh, Anderson, McMorris, Quall, Mulliken, Murray, Talcott, Ruderman, Mastin, Schindler, Lambert, Reardon, Hatfield, Kenney, Carlson, Alexander, D. Schmidt, Lovick, Mitchell, Keiser, Stensen and Rockefeller

Read first time 01/17/2000.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Providing statutory support for career and technical student organizations.

    AN ACT Relating to career and technical student organizations; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The legislature finds that career and technical student organizations:

    (a) Prepare students for career experiences beyond high school;

    (b) Help students develop personal, leadership, technical, and occupational skills;

    (c) Are an integral component of vocational technical instruction programs; and

    (d) Directly help students achieve state learning goals, especially goals three and four with respect to critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills.

    (2) The legislature finds that career and technical student organizations are best situated to fulfill their important purpose if they are in existence pursuant to statute and receive ongoing assistance and support from the office of superintendent of public instruction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall maintain support for state-wide coordination for career and technical student organizations by providing program staff support that is available to assist in meeting the needs of career and technical student organizations and their members and students.  The superintendent shall provide at least one full-time equivalent program staff for purposes of implementing this section.  The superintendent may provide additional support to the organizations through contracting with independent coordinators.

    (2) Career and technical student organizations eligible for technical assistance and other support services under this section are organizations recognized as career and technical student organizations by:

    (a) The United States department of education; or

    (b) The superintendent of public instruction, if such recognition is recommended by the Washington association for career and technical education.

    (3) Career and technical student organizations eligible for technical assistance and other support services under this section include, but are not limited to:  The national FFA organization; family, career, and community leaders of America; skillsUSA; distributive education clubs of America; future business leaders of America; and the technology student association.

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