3127 AMH NIXO MCLA 083
HB 3127 - H AMD 749
By Representative Nixon
WITHDRAWN 2/14/2006
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that the
complexity of modern political life has created a demand for
informed citizens who are willing not only to vote, but also to
participate in the elections process.
(2) The purpose of this section is to create a pilot project
that will help to graduate students who are better voters, better
citizens, and who are ready to take an informed and responsible
place in society.
(3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction
shall work with selected county auditors' offices to develop an
interactive high school civics curriculum to help students learn
how to become informed citizens. The curriculum shall meet the
requirements for the office of the superintendent of public
instruction's classroom-based assessments. Staff from the office of
the superintendent of public instruction shall work directly in the
curriculum development.
(4) Counties shall apply to, and be selected by, the office of
the superintendent of public instruction to participate in the
pilot project under this section. A maximum of fifteen counties may
participate.
(5) The curriculum shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Local government organization;
(b) A discussion of ballot measures, initiatives, and referenda;
(c) The role of the precinct in defining ballots, candidates,
and political activities;
(d) The roles and responsibilities of taxing jurisdictions in
establishing ballot measures; and
(e) The work of conducting elections.
(6) The study may include in the curriculum civics essential
academic learning requirements relating to examining representative
government and citizen participation and analyzing the purposes and
organization of government and laws.
(7) A curriculum guide shall be developed that will help
teachers and students maximize the learning of key issues in
civics, and shall include strategies for helping students develop
voters' guide information for ballot issues and candidates who
appear on the ballot. This guide should incorporate ideas from
other Washington state civics education programs, such as "We the
People" and "Project Citizen." The guide should also present ideas
for sharing the results of an election with the larger community
and with local government officials in productive, meaningful ways.
(8) As part of the pilot project, high school students in
participating counties shall be selected who will have supervised
access to the county's election reporting web site to assist the
county in managing its internet election reporting system. School
districts in participating counties shall select students to
participate in this aspect of the pilot project. Counties shall
provide technical assistance and elections expertise to
participating schools, either through existing staff resources or
through a county-chosen vendor.
(9) In addition to the required components of the pilot project
under this section, other activities may be included in the
project, such as:
(a) Conducting mock county elections at schools;
(b) Using a school version of the county's reporting and
election system to conduct school elections, including, where
possible, having school election results posted on the county's
election web site; and
(c) Preparing an advisory issue on which the school or local
community would vote, including issue preparation, conducting the
election, and preparing a presentation to a local government
official on the results of the advisory issue.
(10) The pilot project shall operate for the 2006-07 and
2007-08 school years.
(11) Funds for the pilot project shall be made available to the
office of the superintendent of public instruction for a contract
position in civics curriculum and for support costs for soliciting
and implementing volunteer participation.
(12) The office of the superintendent of public instruction
shall adopt rules to implement this section, including rules
specifying selection criteria for counties that wish to participate.
(13) The superintendent of public instruction shall provide an
interim report to appropriate committees of the legislature by
December 1, 2008, and a final report by December 1, 2009, detailing
the results of the project and budget recommendations for
expansion, if appropriate.
(14) This section expires January 31, 2010.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The office of the secretary of state shall
enter into an interlocal agreement under chapter 39.34 RCW with the
office of the superintendent of public instruction in which the
office of the secretary of state shall pay the office of the
superintendent of public instruction a minimum of two hundred forty
thousand dollars, representing funds received by the office of the
secretary of state under the federal help America vote act, for the
purpose of curriculum development by the office of the
superintendent of public instruction under this section. Payment
under this section shall be made no later than July 1, 2006. Funds
under this section shall be used for an eighteen-month contract
position at the office of the superintendent of public instruction,
including seminars and follow-up costs.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The sum of two hundred thousand
dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to
the office of the state auditor for the purposes of this act.
(2) The sum of two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof
as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the office of the state
auditor for the purposes of this act.
(3) The appropriations in this section shall be made available
by the auditor's office directly to participating counties for
internet requirements by December 31, 2008. Funding is for the
purpose of supporting the prototype project. Counties may use funds
for in-house development, vendor agreements, or to support existing
services. Funding priority shall be given to counties in which
technology and budgeting constraints would make participating in
the pilot project a funding liability."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Replaces all provisions of the original bill with a requirement that SPI create a pilot project with up to 15 county auditors. The pilot project is an interactive high school civics curriculum where selected students in participating counties assist the county in managing its internet election reporting system. $400,000 is appropriated from the state general fund, plus $240,000 from federal funds under the Help America Vote Act to support the project.