5792 AMH BERG JONC 169

SB 5792 - H AMD TO HOUS COMM AMD (H-2564.1/19) 538

By Representative Bergquist

NOT CONSIDERED 12/23/2019

On page 3, at the beginning of line 1 of the striking amendment, strike "(((1)))" and insert "(1)"

On page 3, at the beginning of line 4 of the striking amendment, strike all material through "attributes:" on line 7 and insert "(2) To the extent practicable consistent with available resources, the public school cultural access element ((of a program of a county described in RCW 36.160.110(2))) must include ((the following attributes:)) providing, directly or otherwise, funding and arrangement of transportation for students at public schools described in (a) and (b) of this subsection to attend and participate annually in the age-appropriate programs and activities offered by cultural access program organizations.

(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a public school, as defined in RCW 28A.150.010, is eligible for the transportation benefit if:

(i) The school is in a jurisdiction participating in a cultural access program;

(ii) At least fifty percent of the school's students are eligible for the federal free and reduced-price schools meals program; and

(iii) The school expressly requests to receive the transportation benefit.

(b) A public school that previously qualified under (a) of this subsection remains eligible for the transportation benefit even if fewer than fifty percent of the school's students are eligible for the federal free and reduced-price school meals program, if the school's percentage of students eligible for the federal free and reduced-price school meals program is greater than the state's annual average number of such students.

(c) If a school district has schools within its boundaries that qualify for the transportation benefit under (a) or (b) of this subsection, the district must report the qualifying schools to the county prior to the county's annual determination on the percentage of total funds to be reserved for a public school cultural access program under RCW 36.160.110(3).

(d) The county must adopt a process by which a school qualifying for the transportation benefit must request to receive the transportation benefit and may require qualifying schools to make the request annually.

(("

EFFECT: (1) Requires a county to, consistent with available resources, provide transportation for students at a public school to attend programs and activities offered by cultural access program organizations if:

(a) the school is in a jurisdiction participating in a cultural access program;

(b) at least fifty percent of the school's students are eligible for the federal free and reduced-price school meals program; and

(2) Allows a school that previously qualified for the transportation benefit to remain eligible for the benefit if the school's percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals drops below 50 percent but remains above the state's annual average of such students.

(3) Requires a school district to annually report to the county the schools within its boundaries that qualify for the transportation benefit prior to the county's annual determination of the percentage of funds to be reserved for the public school cultural access program.

(4) Requires a county to adopt a process by which a school qualifying for the transportation benefit must request to receive the transportation benefit and allows the county to require qualifying schools to make the request annually.

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