AN ACT Relating to creating a task force on school counselors, psychologists, and social workers; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

(i) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from the early learning and K-12 education committee.

(ii) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from the education committee.

(iii) The governor shall appoint one member representing the professional educator standards board.

(iv) The governor shall appoint one member representing counselor, social worker, and psychologist preparation programs.

(v) The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint one member representing the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

(vi) The superintendent of public instruction shall, after consultation with associations representing counselors, social workers, psychologists, educators, and principals, appoint one member representing each association.

(b) The professional educator standards board must be the facilitator for the task force.

(2) The task force shall review the following issues:

(a) The projected need of school districts for each category of educational staff associate;

(b) The current capacity of the state for meeting this need;

(c) Alternative routes for educational staff associate certification; and

(d) Social work, psychologist, and counselor preparation programs to determine whether the professionals completing these programs have the proper preparation to handle the mental health and safety needs of students and to provide students with social and emotional supports.

(3) Staff support for the task force must be provided by the professional educator standards board.

(4) Legislative members of the task force are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.

(5) Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their successor committees.

(6) The task force must report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature, the superintendent of public instruction, and the governor by December 1, 2016, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036.

(7) This section expires July 1, 2017.

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