SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5431
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Higher Education & Workforce Development, February 9, 2021
Ways & Means, February 18, 2021
Title: An act relating to creating the Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship.
Brief Description: Creating the Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship.
Sponsors: Senators Randall, Nobles, Cleveland, Conway, Das, Dhingra, Frockt, Hasegawa, Keiser, Hunt, Honeyford, Holy, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Padden, Robinson, Stanford and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/09/21, 2/09/21 [DP-WM].
Ways & Means: 2/16/21, 2/18/21 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Establishes the Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Randall, Chair; Nobles, Vice Chair; Holy, Ranking Member; Liias.
Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair, Capital; Robinson, Vice Chair, Operating & Revenue; Wilson, L., Ranking Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Schoesler, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Braun, Carlyle, Conway, Darneille, Dhingra, Gildon, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Mullet, Muzzall, Pedersen, Rivers, Van De Wege, Wagoner, Warnick and Wellman.
Staff: Julie Murray (786-7711)
Background:

Legislative Internships.  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.

 

Rosa Franklin. Dr. Rosa Franklin served the 29th Legislative District of Pierce County as a Representative from 1991 to 1993, and then a Senator from 1993 to 2011.  Prior to becoming a state legislator, she worked as a registered nurse and earned a bachelors and a master's degree from local universities.  In 2006, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Puget Sound.  Dr. Franklin was the first African American woman elected to the Washington State Senate.
Summary of Bill:

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 chief clerk of the House of Representatives may administer and conduct the scholarship, including soliciting and accepting gifts and grants.  Any legislative member or employee may also solicit contributions.  Money received may only be used for the scholarship.  The secretary of the Senate and the chief clerk of the House must adopt joint rules or govern and protect the receipt and expenditure of the proceeds.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Higher Education & Workforce Development):

PRO:  This is named after the first black woman to serve in the Senate.  She is an inspiration for people looking at a future in the Legislature, for those who participate in the legislative internship program, and especially those who have sought different educational or career paths, such as healthcare.
 
As a legislative intern, I would have benefited from this scholarship.
Persons Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development): PRO: Senator Emily Randall, Prime Sponsor; Sarah Dobler.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development): No one.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means):

PRO:  I participated in the internship program in the 2020 legislative session.  When you are employed as an intern, you are still a full-time student and it was difficult to manage the upfront cost to participate in the program.  I was able to manage with the help of family, but it would be great to be able to provide financial assistance to others who want to intern.  Interning was a great opportunity.  Costs should not be a determinate factor to participate.  Hope you will support the bill to provide equitable access to the legislative internship program.
Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Sarah Dobler; Athena Brewer.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.