AN ACT Relating to education in Pacific Rim languages; amending RCW 28A.67.020; adding a new section to Title 28A RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that it is important to the economic future of Washington state to promote international awareness and understanding. The legislature intends to complement the provisions of chapter 28A.125 RCW by encouraging high school students to study Pacific Rim languages, promote teacher exchanges with Pacific Rim nations, and allow nonimmigrant aliens to serve as exchange teachers for more than one year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Washington state Pacific Rim language scholarship" means a scholarship awarded, for a period not to exceed one year, to a student proficient in speaking one of the following languages: Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese.

(2) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a college or university in the state of Washington that is accredited by an accrediting association recognized as such by rule of the higher education coordinating board.

(3) "Board" means the higher education coordinating board.

(4) "Student" means a high school senior who is a proficient speaker of a Pacific Rim language, and who intends to enroll in an institution of higher education within one year of high school graduation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The Washington state Pacific Rim language scholarship program is created. The program shall be administered by the higher education coordinating board. In administering the program, the board shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) Select students to receive the scholarships with the assistance of a screening committee composed of leaders in government, business, and education;

(2) Adopt necessary rules and guidelines;

(3) Publicize the program; and

(4) Solicit and accept grants and donations from public and private sources for the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The board shall select up to four students yearly from each congressional district to receive a Washington state Pacific Rim scholarship from funds appropriated for this purpose. Of the four students selected, one student shall be a proficient speaker of Spanish, one of Russian, one of Japanese, and one of Chinese. Using measures as objective as possible, the board shall select students who have shown the most improvement in their ability to speak the language during their high school careers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Scholarships shall not exceed one thousand dollars per student. The scholarship shall not be disbursed to the student until the student is enrolled at an institution of higher education. The board may also use private donations or any other funds given to the board for this program to make additional scholarship awards.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. By October 30, 1995, the board shall report on the program to the governor and the house of representatives and senate committees on higher education. The report shall include a recommendation on whether to expand the number of languages included, and whether to expand the program to students in each legislative district.

Sec. 7. Section 28A.67.020, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 5, chapter 379, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28A.67.020 are each amended to read as follows:

No person, who is not a citizen of the United States of America, shall be permitted to teach in the common schools in this state: PROVIDED, That the superintendent of public instruction may grant to an alien a permit to teach in the common schools of this state if such teacher has all the other qualifications required by law, and has declared his or her intention of becoming a citizen of the United States of America: PROVIDED FURTHER, That after a one year probationary period the superintendent of public instruction, at the request of the school district which employed such teacher on a permit, may grant to an alien whose qualifications have been approved by the state board of education a standard certificate to teach in the common schools of this state: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the superintendent of public instruction may grant to a nonimmigrant alien whose qualifications have been approved by the state board of education a temporary permit to teach foreign language for a period to be defined by the superintendent of public instruction or a one-year temporary permit which is renewable ((~~only once for no more than one year~~)) to teach as an exchange teacher in the common schools of this state.

((Before such alien shall be granted a temporary permit he or she shall be required to subscribe to an oath or affirmation in writing as follows: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington; that I do not advocate the overthrow, destruction, or alteration of the constitutional form of government of the United States or of the state of Washington or any political subdivision of either of them. All oaths or affirmations subscribed as herein provided shall be filed in the office of the superintendent of public instruction and shall be there retained for a period of five years.)) Such permits shall at all times be subject to revocation by the superintendent of public instruction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 2 through 6 of this act shall expire June 30, 1996, and no scholarships shall be granted after June 30, 1996.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall encourage school districts to establish exchange programs for teachers with schools in Pacific Rim nations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 2 through 6 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.