FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5450

                              C 243 L 90

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Talmadge, Moore, Murray and Bauer)

Providing for education in Pacific Rim languages.

Senate Committee on Education

House Committe on Higher Education

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Legislature acknowledges that it is important to the economic future of Washington State for citizens to be knowledgeable about the languages, history, culture, and geography of Pacific Rim nations.  A scholarship program is proposed to encourage students to become proficient in Pacific Rim languages and to further their expertise.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Pacific Rim Language Scholarship Program is created.  The program will be administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.  The board's program responsibilities include selecting scholarship recipients with the help of a screening committee.  The responsibilities also include rule adoption, program publicity, and solicitation and acceptance of grants and donations.

The board will select up to four scholarship recipients yearly from each congressional district.  Each recipient must be a high school senior who intends to enroll in a public or independent accredited college or university in the state within one year of high school graduation.

Of the four recipients selected in each district, one must be proficient in speaking Spanish, one in Russian, one in Japanese, and one in Chinese.  Using measures as objective as possible, the board will select students who have shown the most improvement in high school in their ability to speak their chosen language.

Each recipient will receive up to $1,000 when the recipient enrolls in a college or university.  The scholarship is not renewable.

By October 30, 1995, the board will report on the program to the Governor and the House and Senate Committees on Higher Education.  The report will include a recommendation on program expansion.

The program will expire on June 30, 1996.

The temporary permit issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to qualified nonimmigrant aliens for teaching as exchange teachers in the public schools is renewable more than once for more than one year.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall encourage school districts to establish teacher exchange programs with schools in Pacific Rim nations.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   47    0

     House 97  0 (House amended)

     Senate          (Senate refused to concur)

     House            (House refused to recede)

     Senate          (Senate refused to concur)

Free Conference Committee

     House 95  2

     Senate   43    0

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990