6248-S AMH DELV NERU 1

SSB 6248 - H AMD Scoped March 7, 2002 0471

By Representatative Delvin

On page 2, after line 23, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 The legislature recognizes that good language skills are essential for productive adults and that public schools in the state of Washington provide trained speech pathologists to assist children who lack adequate verbal communication skills to compete successfully in the challenges of securing an education. It recognizes that the task of teaching students to speak well is a formidable one and sees shrinking public funding as an obstacle in providing sufficient professional staff to realize that goal. It further recognizes that professionally trained and nationally certified speech pathologists are provided at no cost by nonprofit charitable organizations to preschool and school-age children. To aid the public schools in teaching essential speech skills, a "Help Kids Speak" license plate emblem is established.

NEW SECTION. Sec.

4. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:

"Help Kids Speak license plate emblems" means emblems on valid Washington license plates that display a symbol of a nonprofit, charitable organization that provides no-fee nationally certified speech pathologists to teach youngsters to speak.

NEW SECTION. Sec.

5. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In cooperation with the Washington state patrol and the department of licensing, the sponsors of the "Help Kids Speak" program shall create and design, and the department shall issue, AHelp Kids Speak@ license plate emblems displaying a symbol of a nonprofit charitable organization and the words "Help Kids Speak" that may be used on motor vehicles required to display two motor vehicle license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department. These license plate emblems will commemorate the "Help Kids Speak" organization.

(2) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 2003, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of "Help Kids Speak" license plate emblems shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the "Help Kids Speak" account established under section 7 of this act.

(3) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 2004, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the holder of "Help Kids Speak" license plate emblems shall, upon application, pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the "Help Kids Speak" account established under section 7 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec.7. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The "Help Kids Speak" program is created. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to nonprofit, charitable organizations, incorporated under the laws of the state of Washington that do not discriminate in any way, and that provide nationally certified speech pathologists on a no-fee basis to youngsters, regardless of their economic status, whether enrolled in a public, private, or home school, of preschool or school age, and who have displayed a lack of verbal communication skills; including in the grant application a finding that there is, on staff of the nonprofit, charitable organization, nationally certified speech pathologists trained in the techniques of teaching youngsters essential communication skills. The superintendent of public instruction shall administer the grant program.

(2) The "Help Kids Speak" account is established in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts, except as provided in section 6 (2) and (3), from "Help Kids Speak" license plate emblems must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only to fund the grant program under subsection (1) of this section. Only the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is not subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, and no appropriation is required for expenditures.@

Correct the title.