AN ACT Relating to adult literacy; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the adult literacy act of 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The economic and social benefits of a highly literate citizenry dictate that the state make a concerted effort to ensure that all residents sixteen years of age or older and not enrolled in the K-12 system who desire to improve their literacy skills will have access to services designed to provide such assistance. It is therefore the policy of this state that there be a coordinated and effective adult literacy program that will achieve an increase in the literacy level of the adult population.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this act.

(1) "Adult literacy program" means individual and group instruction provided to individuals age sixteen or older who are not enrolled in the K-12 system and who possess reading skills at or below the eighth grade level or equivalent as assessed by nationally recognized measures of literacy level.

(2) "Basic skills programs" means individual or group remedial instruction offered by public institutions of higher education, the K-12 system, public vocation-technical institutes, public libraries, and private community-based literacy service providers in the state.

(3) "K-12 system" means the public schools of the state, kindergarten through grade twelve.

(4) "Vocational-technical institutes" means specialized occupational education institutions operated by public school districts of the state.

(5) "Committee" means the state adult literacy advisory committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) A state adult literacy advisory committee is established to develop a state adult literacy plan. The literacy plan shall be developed and a report submitted to the legislature no later than July 1, 1990. The literacy plan shall address, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Publicizing and promoting adult literacy programs throughout the state to encourage participation by students and volunteers;

(b) Identifying the adults in need of literacy services;

(d) Promoting and facilitating contributions of time, space, funds, and other support by business and industry for employees with low literacy skills and for employees to become literacy program volunteers;

(e) Promoting communication and cooperation among adult literacy service providers throughout the state;

(f) Standards to measure the progress of participants during and after completion of literacy programs;

(g) Funding and programs necessary to achieve an annual increase in the level of literacy in the adult population;

(h) A biennially revised adult literacy program report to the legislature which shall take into consideration and be coordinated with the adult literacy and other basic skills programs and services of the public and private adult literacy service providers in the state and with adult literacy programs operated or funded by federal government agencies;

(i) Training of and technical assistance for volunteer adult literacy tutors and volunteers; and

(j) A process for implementing the state adult literacy plan.

(2) The committee shall be composed of twenty members representing business, labor, the legislature, the department of corrections, the employment security department, the department of social and health services, the state board for vocational education, the state board for community college education, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state library, a state-wide organization representing local volunteer adult literacy programs, public libraries, persons eligible to participate or participating in adult literacy programs, volunteer adult literacy programs or organizations, and other community and professional organizations involved in promoting adult literacy in the state. Representatives of the state agencies shall be appointed by the director of the agency. One legislative representative shall be chosen by each caucus. All remaining members shall be appointed by the governor. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. The initial meeting of the committee shall be called by the state librarian. The members of the committee shall select a chairperson and meet at the call of the chairperson. The members of the committee who are not state employees shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Participating state agencies shall provide for the necessary expenses of their representatives.

(3) The committee shall serve until such time as the legislature establishes a successor organization responsible for implementing the state adult literacy plan. Until such successor organization is established, the committee may act to achieve the purposes of this act, as set forth in section 2 of this act, to the extent resources are available.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The Washington state library shall provide the facilities, equipment, and materials necessary to carry out the responsibilities and functions of this act. The library shall provide at least one quarter-time staff, with additional clerical support as requested by the committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the Washington state library to carry out the purposes of this act in consultation with the state adult literacy advisory committee.