BILL REQ. #:  Z-1201.1 

Read first time 01/22/10.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to providing education programs for juveniles in adult jails; and adding a new chapter to Title 28A RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   INTENT. The legislature intends to provide for the operation of education programs for juvenile inmates incarcerated in adult jails.
     The legislature finds that this chapter fully satisfies any constitutional duty to provide education programs for juvenile inmates in adult jails. The legislature further finds that biennial appropriations for education programs under this chapter amply provide for any constitutional duty to educate juvenile inmates in adult jails.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILES IN ADULT JAILS. A program of education shall be made available for juvenile inmates by adult jail facilities and the several school districts of the state for persons under the age of eighteen years who have been incarcerated in any adult jail facilities operated under the authority of chapter 70.48 RCW. Each school district within which there is located an adult jail facility shall, singly or in concert with another school district pursuant to RCW 28A.335.160 and 28A.225.250 or chapter 39.34 RCW, conduct a program of education, including related student activities for inmates in adult jail facilities. School districts are not precluded from contracting with educational service districts, community and technical colleges, four-year institutions of higher education, or other qualified entities to provide all or part of these education programs. The division of duties, authority, and liabilities of the adult jail facilities and the several school districts of the state respecting the educational programs shall be as provided for in this chapter with regard to programs for juveniles in adult jail facilities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   "ADULT JAIL FACILITY"--DEFINED. As used in this chapter, "adult jail facility" means an adult jail operated under the authority of chapter 70.48 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   DUTIES, AUTHORITY, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EDUCATION PROVIDER. (1) Except as otherwise provided for by contract under section 7 of this act, the duties and authority of a school district, educational service district, institution of higher education, or private contractor to provide for education programs under this chapter include:
     (a) Employing, supervising, and controlling administrators, teachers, specialized personnel, and other persons necessary to conduct education programs, subject to security clearance by the adult jail facilities;
     (b) Purchasing, leasing, renting, or providing textbooks, maps, audiovisual equipment paper, writing instruments, physical education equipment, and other instructional equipment, materials, and supplies deemed necessary by the provider of the education programs;
     (c) Conducting education programs for inmates under the age of eighteen in accordance with program standards established by the superintendent of public instruction;
     (d) Expending funds for the direct and indirect costs of maintaining and operating the program of education that are appropriated by the legislature and allocated by the superintendent of public instruction for the exclusive purpose of maintaining and operating education programs for juvenile inmates incarcerated in adult jail facilities, in addition to funds from federal and private grants, and bequests, and gifts made for the purpose of maintaining and operating the program of education; and
     (e) Providing educational services to juvenile inmates within five days of receiving notification from an adult jail facility within the district's boundaries that an individual under the age of eighteen has been incarcerated.
     (2) The school district, educational service district, institution of higher education, or private contractor shall develop the curricula, instruction methods, and educational objectives of the education programs, subject to applicable requirements of state and federal law. For inmates who are under the age of eighteen and who have not met high school graduation requirements, appropriate courses of instruction and school-related student activities shall be provided by the school district for students in adult jails, to the extent that it is practical and judged appropriate by the school district and the administrator of the adult jail facility.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   SCHOOL DISTRICTS--ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY AND LIMITATION. School districts providing an education program to juvenile inmates in an adult jail facility, may:
     (1) Award appropriate diplomas or certificates to juvenile inmates who successfully complete graduation requirements;
     (2) Allow students eighteen years of age who have participated in an education program under this chapter to continue in the program, under rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction; and
     (3) Spend only funds appropriated by the legislature and allocated by the superintendent of public instruction for the exclusive purpose of maintaining and operating education programs under this chapter, including direct and indirect costs of maintaining and operating the education programs, and funds from federal and private grants, bequests, and gifts made for that purpose. School districts may not expend excess tax levy proceeds authorized for school district purposes to pay costs incurred under this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   SUPPORT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS. To support each education program under this chapter, the adult jail facility and each superintendent or chief administrator of an adult jail facility shall:
     (1) Through construction, lease, or rental of space, provide necessary building and exercise spaces for the education program that is secure, safe, separate, and apart from space occupied by nonstudent inmates;
     (2) Through construction, lease, or rental, provide technology and supporting equipment; and other equipment and fixtures deemed necessary by the adult jail facility to conduct the education program;
     (3) Provide heat, lights, telephone, janitorial services, repair services, and other support services for the building and exercise spaces, equipment, and fixtures provided under this section;
     (4) Maintain a clean and appropriate classroom environment that is sufficient to meet the program requirements and consistent with security conditions;
     (5) Employ, supervise, and control security staff to safeguard agents of the education providers and juvenile inmates while engaged in educational and related activities conducted under this chapter;
     (6) Provide clinical and medical evaluation services necessary for a determination by the education provider of the educational needs of juvenile inmates;
     (7) Provide such other support services and facilities as are reasonably necessary to conduct the education program; and
     (8) Notify the school district within which the adult jail facility resides within three business days that an eligible juvenile inmate has been incarcerated in the adult jail facility.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   CONTRACT BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ADULT JAIL FACILITIES. Each education provider under this chapter and the adult jail facility shall negotiate and execute a written contract for each school year, or such longer period as may be agreed to, that delineates the manner in which their respective duties and authority will be cooperatively performed and exercised, and any disputes and grievances resolved through mediation, and if necessary, arbitration. Any such contract may provide for the performance of duties by an education provider in addition to those in this chapter, including duties imposed upon the adult jail facility and its agents under section 6 of this act, if supplemental funding provided by the adult jail facility is available to fully pay the direct and indirect costs of these additional duties.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   EDUCATION SITE CLOSURES OR REDUCTION IN SERVICES--NOTICE--LIABILITY FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE NOTICE--ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (1) By September 30, 2010, districts must, in coordination with adult jail facilities residing within their boundaries, submit an instructional service plan to the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Service plans must meet requirements stipulated in the rules of the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Once districts have submitted a plan to the office of the superintendent of public instruction, districts are not required to resubmit their plans unless either districts or adult jail facilities initiate a significant change to their plans.
     (2) By April 15th of each school year, the adult jail administrator shall provide written notice to the office of the superintendent of public instruction and education providers operating programs under this chapter of any reasonably foreseeable education site closures, reductions in the number of inmates or education services, or any other cause for a reduction in certificated or classified staff the next school year. In the event the adult jail administrator fails to provide notice as required by this section, the adult jail is liable and responsible for the payment of the salary and employment-related costs for the next school year of each employee whose contract would or could have been nonrenewed but for the failure of the adult jail administrator to provide notice. Disputes arising under this section shall be resolved in accordance with the alternative dispute resolution method or methods specified in the contract required by section 7 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   ALLOCATION OF MONEY--ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS--RULES. The superintendent of public instruction shall:
     (1) Allocate money appropriated by the legislature to administer and provide education programs under this chapter to school districts that have assumed the primary responsibility to administer and provide education programs under this chapter or to the educational service district operating the program under contract; and
     (2) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW that establish reporting, program compliance, audit, and such other accountability requirements as are reasonably necessary to implement this chapter and related provisions of the omnibus appropriations act effectively.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   Sections 1 through 9 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 28A RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.