S-1381.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5944
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Senators McAuliffe, Finkbeiner, Regala, Hochstatter, Costa, Fairley, Stevens, Oke and Rasmussen
Read first time 02/09/2001. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to a civic education day; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the operations of the local, state, and federal government and the roles of individual policymakers are often not understood by citizens. Yet public understanding of the institutions and processes of government is critical to a healthy democracy and the building of public trust and confidence in our elected officials. The legislature further finds that civic education through our public schools is a vital tool to promote greater understanding of the role that the voters and policymakers play in a representative democracy.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:
Each school shall conduct a civic education day once during the last full week of October in every odd-numbered year. The purpose of civic education day is to educate future citizens about the concepts of government and representative democracy, and to promote civic education. At a minimum, civic education day must include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) A school-wide assembly lasting not less than one regular class period. The assembly must include at least one speaker who is an elected official from local, state, or federal government; and
(2) Voter registration information and, when appropriate, opportunities for students to register.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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