BILL REQ. #:  S-3359.1 

Read first time 01/15/14.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the interactive gaming in schools public-private partnership; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The interactive gaming in schools public-private partnership is established, composed of the following members:
     (a) Four members of the legislature, with one member from each caucus of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one member from each caucus of the senate appointed by the president of the senate;
     (b) Four experts in the integration of interactive technology or gaming into education, with one expert nominated by each caucus of the house of representatives and submitted for appointment by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one expert nominated by each caucus of the senate and submitted for appointment by the president of the senate;
     (c) A representative of the department of early learning, appointed by the director of the department of early learning;
     (d) A representative of the office of the superintendent of public instruction, appointed by the superintendent of public instruction.
     (2) The chair of the partnership shall be selected by the members of the partnership from among the legislative members.
     (3) To the extent funds are appropriated or are made available for this purpose, the partnership may hire a staff person who shall reside in the office of the superintendent of public instruction for administrative purposes. Additional technical and logistical support may be provided by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the organizations concerning the partnership, and other participants in the interactive gaming in schools public-private partnership.
     (4) The members of the partnership shall be appointed by August 1, 2014.
     (5) Legislative members of the partnership shall receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (6) This section shall be implemented to the extent funds are available.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The purpose of the interactive gaming in schools public-private partnership is to examine how interactive games may be integrated into primary and secondary education to increase student involvement and achievement.
     (2) In carrying out its task, and to the extent funds are available, the interactive gaming in schools public-private partnership shall:
     (a) Consider how interactive games and advances in technology may be integrated into Washington's education system from early learning through grade twelve, with a focus on improving student engagement and achievement;
     (b) Develop a proposal for a pilot program that integrates interactive games into the early learning and K-12 curriculum in Washington;
     (c) Submit the pilot program proposal to the legislature by December 1, 2015.
     (3) This section expires January 1, 2016.