Background: Association of Washington Generals (AWG). The AWG is a service organization formed in 1970 by Lieutenant Governor John Cherberg. The AWG was recognized in statute by the Legislature in 2005 as a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation with the purpose of recognizing individuals providing outstanding service to the state and bringing those individuals together to serve as ambassadors of trade, tourism, and international goodwill.

The AWG is governed by a board of directors. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of State serve on the board as ex officio, non-voting members. The board will review nominations for and select new Washington generals, and establish the title of "honorary Washington general" to honor worthy individuals from outside of Washington.

The AWG may conduct activities in support of their mission, including establishing selection criteria for selecting Washington generals, operating an essay contest, and training and promoting the generals as ambassadors of Washington.

Special License Plate Fees. The Department of Licensing (DOL) issues special vehicle license plates that may be used in lieu of standard plates. A governmental or nonprofit sponsoring organization seeking to sponsor a special plate must submit documentation to the DOL that verifies the organization is either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit as defined in federal law, or is located in Washington State and has registered as a charitable organization with the Secretary of State's Office. An organization may be permitted to sponsor a plate if it is a professional sports franchise and is using the profits in conjunction with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. A governmental body may also qualify for a special license plate. Examples of special license plates approved by the DOL include the baseball stadium special plates, Seattle Seahawks special plates, and the Seattle Sounders FC special plates.

In 2014, the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC special license plates were created. In addition to all fees and taxes that must be paid for a vehicle registration, a fee of $40 is charged for an original issue of the special license plate, and a $30 fee is charged upon renewal. The DOL collects special license plate fees and, for administrative expenses, deducts an amount not to exceed $12 for new plate issuance and $2 for renewal. After the costs associated with establishing the special license plates are recovered, proceeds from the sale of the Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Seahawks special license plates are distributed as follows:

Seattle Sounders FC Special Plate. Up to 30 percent, not to exceed $40,000 annually, adjusted for inflation by the Office of Financial Management, goes to the AWG to develop educational, veterans, international relations, and civic projects, and to recognize the outstanding public service of individuals or groups. Seventy percent and any of the remaining proceeds after distributions are made to the AWG are for the nonprofit organization, Washington State Mentors, to increase the number of mentors in the state by offering mentoring grants throughout Washington that foster positive youth development and academic success. Up to 20 percent of this amount may be used for program administration costs.
Seattle Seahawks Special Plate. Proceeds are to be used by the nonprofit organization, InvestED, to encourage secondary students who have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community.

Proceeds from the baseball stadium special plates are dedicated to baseball stadium bond retirement. The bonds from the stadium were paid off in 2011. Upon retirement of the bonds issued for the construction of the baseball stadium, the state treasurer credits the proceeds to the State General Fund.

Summary: Association of Washington Generals. The purpose of the AWG is extended to include expanding educational, sports, and/or employment opportunities for youth, veterans, and people with disabilities in Washington State.

The AWG's activities are modified to eliminate the operation of a statewide essay competition.

The Board must adopt bylaws and establish governance and transparency policies.

Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor is responsible for administering the Washington World Fellows Program, a college readiness and study abroad fellowship, and is authorized to collaborate with the AWG to administer the program.

Beginning January 1, 2019, the Sports Mentoring Program is established under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to enable eligible nonprofit community-based organizations to provide opportunities to underserved youth to join sports teams or otherwise participate in sports.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor will collaborate with the AWG to administer the Sports Mentoring Program, including issuing competitive grants to eligible organizations using the following criteria to prioritize applications, such as whether services provided by the organization are provided for free. Eligible organizations must:

be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization;
conduct criminal background checks for employees and volunteer mentors who work with children;
adopt standards of care;
ensure that at least 60 percent of youth served are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch;
provide free, direct services to children through volunteer mentoring; and
provide professional oversight of all mentoring relationships for each child served.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor must post information on its website of funds received and expended by the AWG and submit an annual financial report to the Legislature that details revenues and expenditures for the Washington World Fellows and Sports Mentoring programs.

Special License Plate Fees. The allocation of the Seattle Seahawks special license plate fees is adjusted. Seventy-five percent is retained by InvestED to encourage secondary students who have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community. Up to 25 percent, goes to the AWG to create equity focused educational opportunities, including the Washington World Fellows Program. At least 90 percent of the amounts received from the Seattle Seahawks special license plate must be applied towards fellowships under the program.

The baseball stadium license plate provisions in statute are repealed and the Seattle Mariners special license plate and account are created. The funds from the Seattle Mariners license plate are allocated as follows:

75 percent to fund the Sports Mentoring Program, with at least 90 percent of the amounts received to be applied towards services directly provided to youth participants in the Sports Mentoring Program; and
25 percent to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor solely for the administration of the Washington World Fellows Program.

Senate	45	0
House	92	6	(House amended)
Senate	49	0	(Senate concurred)

Effective:	June 7, 2018
	January 1, 2019 (Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8)