HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1594

As Amended by the Senate

Title: An act relating to the membership and work of the financial education public-private partnership.

Brief Description: Concerning the membership and work of the financial education public-private partnership.

Sponsors: Representatives Santos and Anderson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 2/15/11, 2/17/11 [DP];

Education Appropriations & Oversight: 2/18/11, 2/21/11 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/28/11, 96-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 4/12/11, 48-0.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 21 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Lytton, Vice Chair; Dammeier, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Angel, Billig, Dahlquist, Fagan, Finn, Haigh, Hargrove, Hunt, Klippert, Kretz, Ladenburg, Liias, Maxwell, McCoy, Probst and Wilcox.

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 18 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Probst, Vice Chair; Anderson, Ranking Minority Member; Dammeier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dahlquist, Frockt, Hargrove, Hope, Maxwell, Nealey, Orwall, Reykdal, Rolfes, Santos, Seaquist, Sells, Short and Stanford.

Staff: Ben Rarick (786-7349).

Background:

The Financial Education Public-Private Partnership (Partnership) is made up of four legislators, four representatives from the financial services sector, four educators, one designee from the Department of Financial Institutions, and two representatives from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The duties of the Partnership include:

• communicate financial education standards and strategies for improving financial education to school districts;

• review and develop a procedure for endorsing financial education curriculum;

• identify assessments and outcome measures that schools can use to determine whether students meet financial education standards; and

• monitor and provide guidance for professional development.

As a result of legislation enacted in 2007, "understanding the importance of work and finance...." appears as one of the goals of Basic Education. In 2008 financial literacy was included within Washington's 7th grade Grade Level Expectations for social studies and economics. There are no separate Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) for financial education.

The JumpStart Coalition is a national organization that promotes financial education and is composed of over 180 public and private partners with state affiliates, including one in Washington. The JumpStart Coalition has adopted personal financial literacy learning standards for grades K-12, which the Partnership has recommended for adoption as the EALRs for Washington schools.

Summary of Bill:

Membership. All members of the Partnership are appointed for two-year terms of service except the representative from the Department of Financial Institutions. Excluding legislative members, the terms of service are staggered so that half of the members within each category are appointed for a one-year term, and then a two-year term thereafter. Appointments under these provisions must be made by August 1, 2011.

Standards. Subject to funds appropriated to support school districts with curriculum and professional development, the JumpStart Coalition National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education are adopted as the EALRs for financial education. If funds are not appropriated, school districts are encouraged to adopt the standards voluntarily and provide students an opportunity to master them.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

School districts are encouraged to voluntarily adopt the JumpStart learning standards for financial education and provide students with an opportunity to master them. The bill as passed House adopted the JumpStart standards subject to funds appropriated to support school districts with curriculum and professional development, and then encouraged school districts to adopt the standards voluntarily if funds were not appropriated.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Education):

(In support) Staggering the terms of members provides more clarity and more continuity. The current Partnership is working very well together. There is an excellent division among the private, government, and education sectors. The JumpStart standards should be adopted. There are many financial education programs in use, and it would be good to have a benchmark with a proven track record to evaluate them.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Education Appropriations & Oversight):

(In support) The Partnership has taken an incremental approach with legislation over the past several years to gradually strengthen financial education. The Partnership is not coming to the Legislature for funding. It has received some financial support previously and has been able to provide teacher training and do other activities. There is no need to develop curriculum; it exists. The real issue is providing teachers with information about financial education standards and available curriculum. The Office of the Superintendent Public Instruction has already incorporated the JumpStart standards into recommended curriculum for teachers to use. The Partnership is a hard-working group and is doing well.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying (Education): Kathleen Lopp, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Mark Minickiello, Northwest Credit Union Association.

Persons Testifying (Education Appropriations & Oversight): Representative Santos, prime sponsor; and Kathleen Lopp, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Education): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Education Appropriations & Oversight): None.