H-2923.1

HOUSE BILL 2487

ByRepresentatives Lekanoff, Shavers, and Nance

AN ACT Relating to education and assistance for displaced farmworkers; adding a new section to chapter 28B.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28C.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.145 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.50 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.117 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.115 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.103 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.122 RCW; and adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW.

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

(1) Help farmworkers who have been or will be displaced from their jobs in the agricultural industry learn about postsecondary educational opportunities;

(2) Provide outreach to farmworkers to educate them on existing scholarship and grant opportunities available to Washington residents; and

(3) Provide technical support and wraparound services to farmworkers pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities.

(1) "Apprentice" means a person enrolled in a state-approved, federally registered, or reciprocally recognized apprenticeship program.

(2) "Apprenticeship" means an apprenticeship training program approved or recognized by the state apprenticeship council or similar federal entity.

(3) "Farmworker" means a Washington resident who is an agricultural employee or farm labor contractor as defined in RCW 19.30.010.

(4) "Institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 or a degree-granting institution as defined in RCW 28B.85.010 that participates in the state student financial aid program.

(5) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.

(6) "Preapprenticeship" means an apprenticeship preparation program recognized by the state apprenticeship council and as defined in RCW 28C.18.162.

(7) "Program" means the farmworkers education and assistance program created in this chapter.

(2) The office shall convene and consult with an advisory committee to assist with program design and implementation. The committee must include:

(a) Farmworkers who have been displaced from their jobs in the agricultural industry;

(b) A representative from the state board for community and technical colleges;

(c) Student support specialists from public and private colleges and universities;

(d) A representative from the state workforce training and education coordinating board;

(e) A representative of the employment security department; and

(f) A member of the state apprenticeship council.

(3) The office, in consultation and with assistance from the state board for community and technical colleges, shall identify students and apprentices who are current or former farmworkers so that those students and apprentices may receive assistance under the program. In designing and implementing the program under this section, the office, in consultation and with assistance from the state board for community and technical colleges, shall ensure that institutions of higher education have a plan for identifying students and apprentices who are eligible for assistance under this program, for tracking and enhancing their academic progress, for addressing their unique needs, and for linking them to appropriate sources of assistance in their transition from farmworker to student and beyond.

(4) The office shall define a process for verifying a student's or apprentice's status as a farmworker.

(5) Subject to amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, institutions of higher education must receive financial and other incentives for achieving measurable progress in the recruitment, retention, and graduation of eligible students and apprentices.

(6) All institutions of higher education shall include on their applications for admission or on their registration materials a question asking whether the applicant has been a farmworker, with an explanation that financial and support services may be available.

(a) Academic, social, family, financial, and logistical information important to successful postsecondary educational success;

(b) How and when to obtain and complete college applications;

(c) How and when to apply for a registered apprenticeship or recognized preapprenticeship program;

(d) What academic subject matter prerequisites, if any, are generally required for acceptance to an institution of higher education, a registered apprenticeship, or a recognized preapprenticeship program;

(e) What college placement tests, if any, are generally required for admission to college and when and how to register for such tests;

(f) How and when to obtain and complete a federal free application for federal student aid or if ineligible to apply for the federal free application for federal student aid, the state financial aid application approved by the office; and

(g) Detailed sources of financial aid and assistance likely available to farmworkers in Washington.

(2) The office shall determine whether to design, build, and operate the outreach program and website directly or to use, support, and modify existing websites created by government or nongovernmental entities for a similar purpose.

(2) Services offered must include:

(a) Supporting clients, including displaced farmworkers;

(b) Addressing and explaining required academic and financial forms required for apprenticeships and postsecondary educational opportunities;

(c) Information on available scholarships and grants; and

(d) One-on-one appointments with the navigator to discuss career paths and outreach resources.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 28B.12 RCW to read as follows:

Ten percent of funds available for the state work-study program must be reserved for students who are farmworkers as defined in section 2 of this act and who otherwise meet the requirements for state work-study.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 28C.04 RCW to read as follows:

Ten percent of funds available for the Washington award for vocational excellence must be reserved for students who are farmworkers as defined in section 2 of this act and who otherwise qualify for the award.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 28B.145 RCW to read as follows:

Ten percent of funds available for the opportunity scholarship must be reserved for students who are farmworkers as defined in section 2 of this act and who otherwise qualify for the scholarship.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 RCW to read as follows:

Ten percent of funds available for the opportunity grant must be reserved for students who are farmworkers as defined in section 2 of this act and who otherwise qualify for the grant.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 28B.117 RCW to read as follows:

Ten percent of funds available for the passport to careers program and the passport to apprenticeship opportunities program must be reserved for students who are farmworkers as defined in section 2 of this act and who otherwise qualify for the programs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 28B.115 RCW to read as follows:

Ten percent of funds available for the Washington health corps must be reserved for students who are farmworkers as defined in section 2 of this act and who otherwise qualify under this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12. A new section is added to chapter 28B.103 RCW to read as follows:

Ten percent of funds available for the Washington national guard postsecondary education grant program must be reserved for students who are farmworkers as defined in section 2 of this act and who otherwise qualify for the grant.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 13. A new section is added to chapter 28B.122 RCW to read as follows:

Ten percent of funds available for the aerospace training student loan program must be reserved for students who are farmworkers as defined in section 2 of this act and who otherwise qualify for the program.

--- END ---