HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2531

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to career and technical student organizations.

Brief Description:  Providing statutory support for career and technical student organizations.

Sponsors:  Representatives Doumit, Huff, Morris, Schoesler, Linville, Cox, Grant, Haigh, Anderson, McMorris, Quall, Mulliken, Murray, Talcott, Ruderman, Mastin, Schindler, Lambert, Reardon, Hatfield, Kenney, Carlson, Alexander, D. Schmidt, Lovick, Mitchell, Keiser, Stensen and Rockefeller.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  2/1/00, 2/4/00 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/10/00, 96-0.

Passed Senate:  3/1/00, 45-0.

Passed Legislature.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$The Superintendent of Public Instruction will support, with at least one full-time equivalent program staff person, state-wide coordination for career and technical student organizations.

$The criteria used to identify student organizations eligible for assistance and support are defined, and a list of eligible organizations is included.   

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Quall, Democratic Co-Chair; Talcott, Republican Co-Chair; Haigh, Democratic Vice Chair; Schindler, Republican Vice Chair; Carlson; Cox; Keiser; Rockefeller; Santos; D. Schmidt; Schual-Berke; Stensen; Thomas and Wensman.

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:

The fourth goal of the state's basic education act is that all students develop the knowledge and skills essential to an understanding of the importance of work and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.

On its website, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has included standards and indicators for vocational-technical education programs offered the state's public schools.  One of the standards adopted by the office is that vocational-technical education programs provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate technical, related academic, and work readiness competencies required in the workplace, community, family, and for continuing education.  Among other indicators that programs have met the standard are two pertaining to vocational student leadership organizations.   Those indicators are:

$All vocational-technical programs provide the opportunity for students to participate in recognized program related state and national vocational student leadership organizations.

$Interpersonal and leadership development competencies are taught as an integral part of each approved program, in addition to state and national student leadership organizations. 

Summary of Bill:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) will support, with at least one full-time equivalent program staff person, state-wide coordination for career and technical student organizations.  The SPI may provide additional support to the organizations and their members through contracts with independent coordinators.  The criteria used to identify organizations eligible for assistance and support from the SPI are defined, and a list of eligible organizations is included.   

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Thousands of students have been helped by their participation in career and technical student organizations.  Through the organized activities of organizations such as the Future Farmers of America and Distributive Education Clubs of America, students develop confidence, speaking and leadership skills, a positive work ethic, and an understanding of their responsibility to take care of themselves and others.  Currently, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction provides eight-tenths of a full-time equivalent staff position to advise and assist these organizations.  However, the responsibility is split among four different people.  Students and their advisers would like to be able to work with one person who has as his or her sole responsibility the provision of advice and assistance to these organizations.

Testimony Against:  None. 

Testified:  Representative Doumit, prime sponsor; (in support)  Nicole Mazikowski, River Ridge High School DECA, Katie Gillespie, CHS DECA; Kathleen Lopp, Washington Association for Career and Technical Education; Rika Smith, Technology Student Association; Greg Pile, Desire Cordas, Future Farmers of America;