BILL REQ. #:  S-4232.2 

Read first time 01/16/08.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to high-demand fields and degrees; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The higher education coordinating board shall contract with a private vendor to create a three-to five-year marketing plan to increase student interest in high-demand fields of study and to increase public awareness of high-demand fields and degrees. The marketing program shall target unlikely college students in middle school or high school with a focus on low-income and underrepresented communities, likely college students in middle school and high school, adult learners, parents, and educators.
     (2) The private vendor shall be selected based upon the proven ability to provide:
     (a) Creative planning for educational advertising;
     (b) Production of successful advertisement campaigns;
     (c) Production of collateral materials;
     (d) Opinion research for the evaluation of advertising campaigns; and
     (e) Web site creation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sum of seven hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, from the general fund to the higher education coordinating board for the purposes of this act.