Brief Summary of Bill

Adds "expands educational and/or employment opportunities for youth, veterans, and people with disabilities in Washington state" to the purpose section for the Association of Washington Generals (AWG).
Allows the AWG to operate a statewide Washington World Fellows program rather than an essay competition.
Provides that members of the AWG board may be compensated and reimbursed for their travel expenses.
Provides up to 25 percent of the Seattle Seahawks special license plate proceeds to the AWG to encourage students who may have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community.

Background: Association of Washington Generals. The AWG is a service organization formed in 1970 by Lieutenant Governor John Cherberg. The AWG was recognized in statute by the Legislature in 2005 as a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation with the purpose of recognizing outstanding service to the state and bringing those individuals together to serve as ambassadors of trade, tourism, and international goodwill.

The AWG is governed by a board of directors. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of State serve on the association's board of directors as ex officio non-voting members. The board will review nominations for and select new Washington generals, and establish the title of "honorary Washington general" to honor worthy individuals from outside of Washington.

The AWG may conduct activities in support of their mission, including establishing selection criteria for selecting Washington generals, operating an essay contest, and training and promoting the generals as ambassadors of Washington.

Special License Plate Fees. The Department of Licensing (DOL) issues special vehicle license plates that may be used in lieu of standard plates. A governmental or nonprofit sponsoring organization seeking to sponsor a special plate must submit documentation to the DOL that verifies the organization is either a 501c3 nonprofit as defined in federal law, or is located in Washington State and has registered as a charitable organization with the Secretary of State's Office. An organization may be permitted to sponsor a plate if it is a professional sports franchise and is using the profits in conjunction with a 501c3 nonprofit organization. A governmental body may also qualify for a special license plate.

In 2014 the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC special license plates were created. In addition to all fees and taxes that must be paid for a vehicle registration, a fee of $40 is charged for an original issue the special license plate, and a $30 fee is charged upon renewal. The DOL collects special license plate fees and, for administrative expenses, deducts an amount not to exceed $12 for new plate issuance and $2 for renewal. After the costs associated with establishing the special license plates are recovered, proceeds from the sale of the Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Seahawks special license plates are distributed as follows:

Seattle Sounders FC Special Plate. Up to 30 percent, not to exceed $40,000 annually, adjusted for inflation by the Office of Financial Management, goes to the AWG to develop educational, veterans, international relations, and civic projects, and to recognize the outstanding public service of individuals or groups. Seventy percent and any of the remaining proceeds after distributions are made to the AWG are for the nonprofit organization, Washington State Mentors, to increase the number of mentors in the state by offering mentoring grants throughout Washington that foster positive youth development and academic success. Up to 20 percent of this amount may be used for program administration costs.
Seattle Seahawks Special Plate. Proceeds are to be used by the nonprofit organization, InvestED, to encourage secondary students who have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community.

Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute): Association of Washington Generals. The purpose of the AWG is extended to include expanding educational and/or employment opportunities for youth, veterans, and people with disabilities in Washington State.

The AWG is authorized to operate a study abroad and college readiness fellowship called the Washington World Fellows program rather than a statewide essay competition.

Members of the AWG board may be compensated and reimbursed for their travel expenses.

Special License Plate Fees. The allocation of the Seattle Seahawks special license plate fees is adjusted. Up to 25 percent, goes to the AWG to encourage students who may have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community. Seventy-five percent is retained by InvestED to encourage secondary students who have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (State Government): Testimony from 2017 Regular Session. PRO: The AWG has a long history that recognizes individuals that have outstanding service to the state and brings those individuals together to serve our state. The original idea stems from the Kentucky which has Colonels. Lt. Governor Cherberg felt that Washington should have a similar program and since generals outrank colonels, Washington members became Generals. This bill is important because it will expand opportunities for youth, veterans and others in the state. AWG is staffed by the Lieutenant Governor's office and it is important to have the purpose in the statute to ensure that the office can work together with the board to do this important work. This bill aligns the appointment process with other associations and provides more structure. Under the new process board members would still be chosen among the Washington Generals.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Proposed Substitute (State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections): PRO: This is a bill provides a more accurate reflection in statute of the roles and responsibilities of the AWG. This is an honor organization, much like the Kentucky Coronels but for Washington, that does important outreach to veterans international delegations. The Washington Generals have created a study abroad fellowship program for high school kids to provide the opportunity to study abroad and get college credit from Central Washington University, that’s the Washington World Fellows program which is included in the bill. This Substitute provides a small portion of the Seahawks license plate revenue to AWG, similar to the sounders plate, to support this program which does have support of the Seahawks Association.