BILL REQ. #:  S-3847.1 

Read first time 01/24/14.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a work group to make recommendations for the continued viability of the college bound scholarship program; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that while the college bound scholarship program was created in 2007, the first cohort of scholarship recipients entered institutions of higher education in 2013 and emerging data shows that the program is a success. However, the legislature further finds that the program faces long-term challenges. Therefore, the legislature intends to create a work group to make recommendations to ensure the program is viable, productive, and effective.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1)(a) A college bound scholarship program work group is established. The work group shall consist of the following members:
     (i) Two members of the house of representatives, with one member representing each of the major caucuses and appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
     (ii) Two members of the senate, with one member representing each of the major caucuses and appointed by the president of the senate;
     (iii) One member from a college scholarship organization that is a private nonprofit corporation registered under Title 24 RCW and qualified as a tax-exempt entity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code, with expertise in managing scholarships and college advising; and
     (iv) Two nonlegislative representatives appointed by the governor.
     (b) All members must be appointed by June 30, 2014.
     (c) The work group shall appoint its own chair and vice chair and shall meet at least once but no more than five times in 2014.
     (d) Legislative members of the work group shall serve without additional compensation, but shall be reimbursed in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 while attending meetings of the work group. Nonlegislative members of the work group may be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (2) The work group shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature by December 31, 2014, with recommendations for making the college bound scholarship program viable, including but not limited to funding.
     (3) Staff support for the work group shall be jointly provided by senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research, with the office of financial management presenting data as needed.
     (4) This section expires July 1, 2015.