BILL REQ. #:  H-0467.1 

Read first time 01/21/13.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to membership on the opportunity scholarship board; and amending RCW 28B.145.020.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.145.020 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 13 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The opportunity scholarship board is created. The opportunity scholarship board consists of ((seven)) nine members:
     (a) Three members appointed by the governor. For two of the three appointments, the governor shall consider names from a list provided by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives; and
     (b) ((Four)) Six foundation or business and industry representatives appointed by the governor from among the state's most productive industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, health sciences, information technology, and others. The foundation or business and industry representatives shall be selected from among nominations provided by the private sector donors to the opportunity scholarship and opportunity expansion programs. However, the governor may request, and the private sector donors shall provide, an additional list or lists from which the governor shall select these representatives.
     (2) Board members shall hold their offices for a term of four years from the first day of September and until their successors are appointed. No more than the terms of two members may expire simultaneously on the last day of August in any one year.
     (3) The members of the opportunity scholarship board shall elect one of the business and industry representatives to serve as chair.
     (4) Five members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In case of a vacancy, or when an appointment is made after the date of expiration of the term, the governor or the president of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives, depending upon which made the initial appointment to that position, shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the board member whose office has become vacant or expired.
     (5) The opportunity scholarship board shall be staffed by the program administrator.
     (6) The purpose of the opportunity scholarship board is to provide oversight and guidance for the opportunity expansion and the opportunity scholarship programs in light of established legislative priorities and to fulfill the duties and responsibilities under this chapter, including but not limited to determining eligible education programs for purposes of the opportunity scholarship program. Duties, exercised jointly with the program administrator, include soliciting funds and setting annual fund-raising goals.
     (7) The opportunity scholarship board may report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature with recommendations as to:
     (a) Whether some or all of the scholarships should be changed to conditional scholarships that must be repaid in the event the participant does not complete the eligible education program; and
     (b) A source or sources of funds for the opportunity expansion program in addition to the voluntary contributions of the high technology research and development tax credit under RCW 82.32.800.