SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1952

BYHouse Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Pruitt, Vekich, Heavey, Holm, Sanders and Doty)

Requiring that special effort be made by the conservation corps to recruit residents with sensory, mental, or physical handicaps.

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1988; February 23, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Cantu, Conner, Deccio, McMullen, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke, West.

Senate Staff:Patrick Woods (786-7430)

                  February 24, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & LABOR, FEBRUARY 23, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Youth Conservation Corps was created to provide work experience and training for young people from the ages of eighteen to twenty- five.  Participants in the corps work on the conservation, rehabilitation, and enhancement of the state's natural, historic, and recreational resources. Emphasis is given to projects relating to timber, fish and wildlife management plans; watershed management plans; the 1989 centennial celebration; Puget Sound water quality; the U.S.-Canada fisheries treaty; and recreational facilities which provide public access to and environmental education about natural resources.

Projects are selected by the Washington Conservation Corps Coordinating Council which is composed of representatives from the following state agencies:  Employment Security, Ecology, Wildlife, Fisheries, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Parks and Recreation.

SUMMARY:

The upper age requirement for participation in the corps may be waived for participants who have sensory, mental, or physical handicaps.

Special effort shall be made to recruit participants who have sensory, mental, or physical handicaps.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

The waiver of the upper age limit for participation in the Conservation Corps by individuals with a physical handicap is removed.

The requirements that agencies make a special effort to recruit participants who have sensory, mental or physical handicaps is deleted.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 1, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: Patricia De Boer, Alliance for Mentally Ill; Verna Vpuz, Alliance for Mentally Ill