SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5702
As of February 13, 2023
Title: An act relating to expanding the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth pilot program.
Brief Description: Expanding the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth pilot program.
Sponsors: Senators Trudeau, Nobles, Dhingra, Hunt, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Pedersen, Salda?a, Valdez and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/15/23.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Makes the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program permanent.
  • Adds the tribal college as eligible to participate in the program.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)
Background:

In 2019, the Legislature established pilot programs to provide assistance and accommodations to students experiencing homelessness and to students who were in foster care when they graduated from high school.

 

The participating community and technical colleges (CTCs) and four-year institutions must provide accommodations to homeless students and students who were in foster care at high school graduation. The accommodations may include:

  • access to laundry facilities, storage, locker rooms and showers, and technology;
  • reduced-price meals or meal plans;
  • access to short-term housing or housing assistance, especially during seasonal breaks; and
  • case management services.

 

In 2021, the program was expanded from two to four public four-year institutions. The pilot was also expanded at CTCs, for eight total. The pilot program's expiration date was extended to July 1, 2024, from July 1, 2023. In 2022, the pilot program was further expanded to include six public four-year institutions and all CTCs.
Summary of Bill:

The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute):

The students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program is no longer a pilot program with participation limited to eight CTC and four public four-year institutions. Subject to appropriation, all CTCs and public four-year institutions are eligible to participate. The program is also expanded to include the tribal college.

 

The expiration date for the pilot program is eliminated.
Appropriation: The bill contains a section or sections to limit implementation to the availability of amounts appropriated for that specific purpose.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 13, 2023.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.