Rosa Franklin.
Senator Rosa Franklin served the 29th Legislative District as a member of the House of Representatives from 1991-1993, and a member of the Senate from 1993-2011.  While in the House of Representatives, she served on the Housing, Commerce and Labor, Health Care, and Local Government Committees.  In the Senate, she served on various committees including Human Services and Corrections, Health and Long-Term Care, and Labor and Workforce Development.  During Senator Franklin's time in the Senate, she held leadership positions such Democratic Whip, Majority Whip, and twice as President Pro Tempore.  Senator Franklin was the first African American woman to be elected to the Washington State Senate.
 
Senator Franklin sponsored legislation that created the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities, supported the passage of the Washington Housing Policy Act, and worked on environmental equity and anti-discrimination issues.  Senator Franklin was also appointed to serve on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council by President Clinton.
 
Prior to joining the Legislature, Senator Franklin was heavily engaged in the community on the local level.  Senator Franklin had a 42-year career as a nurse and was actively involved in professional nursing associations.  Her experiences showed her how health care for minority communities was intertwined with civil rights and led her to advocate for social justice.  She was appointed to serve on several Tacoma governing committees, such as the Pierce County Health Council. 

Senator Franklin is an alumna of both the University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University.  She obtained a women's health care specialist certificate from the University of Washington and received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Puget Sound.  She was inducted into the Washington State Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and received the inaugural Senator Rosa Franklin award from the Foundation for Healthy Generations.  Senator Franklin is also the recipient of the 2019 Legacy Dream Award from the University of Washington Tacoma, which is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the university community in the areas of diversity, social justice, or civil rights.  An oral history of Senator Franklin was recently completed and published by the Washington State Oral History Program. 
 
Legislative Internship Program.
Through the Legislative Internship Program, the Washington State Legislature offers full-time internship positions each legislative session for college and university students.  Most of these positions are undergraduate policy internships, where students work in Olympia as staff for members of the House of Representatives or Senate.  Interns are matched with the offices of legislators or caucus staff based on their skills and interests.  Interns complete a variety of projects such as corresponding with constituents, tracking legislation, and conducting legislative research.

The Rosa Franklin Legislative Internship Program Scholarship is established.  Washington students who are accepted into and participate in the legislative internship program of the Senate and House of Representatives may qualify based on financial need.
 
The Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives are authorized to administer and conduct the scholarship, including soliciting and accepting gifts and grants.  Any legislative member or employee may also solicit contributions.
 
The Rosa Franklin Legislative Internship Program Scholarship account is created in the custody of the State Treasurer.  Funds received from gifts or grants must be deposited into the account and may only be used for the scholarship.  The Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives must adopt joint rules to govern and protect the receipt and expenditure of the proceeds.