HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1481

BYRepresentatives Rasmussen, Walker, Pruitt, Betrozoff, Holm, Cooper, Ebersole, Holland, Valle, Rayburn, Peery, Unsoeld, Grant, Dorn, Hargrove, Barnes, Moyer, Wineberry, Anderson, Lewis, Heavey, Crane, Wang, Jesernig, Patrick, Jones, Winsley, Basich, P. King, Hine, Miller, Sanders, Day, Spanel, K. Wilson, Silver, Armstrong, Ferguson and Butterfield

Establishing a program for senior citizen volunteers in our schools.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (20)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Betrozoff, Butterfield, Cole, Cooper, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Holland, Holm, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Schoon, Todd, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION JANUARY 29, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Many school districts have tried to provide increased contact between the school and community.  Demographics show that the two increasing segments of our population are school age children and senior citizens.  With the increasing mobility of our society, the destruction of the nuclear family and rapid change in our society there appears to be a decrease in interaction between age groups. Understanding and excitement can be generated when people of different ages and experience have the opportunity to interact.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  School districts are encouraged to develop a six-plus- sixty aid program.  The purpose of the program is to encourage senior citizens to volunteer as teachers' aides in our public schools.  Local education program enhancement funds may be used to provide information to senior citizens and the community on volunteer opportunities, for training of the senior citizen volunteers and to compensate the volunteers for transportation by providing mileage, providing transportation on school buses, or in lieu of mileage, the senior citizen may receive a school lunch.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  All responsibilities assigned to the superintendent of public instruction for the administration of the six-plus-sixty program including selection of participants and award of funding are removed. The appropriation is removed.  The program becomes permissive and school districts may use existing local education program enhancement funds for this purpose.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 11, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Bonnie Pinckney, Tacoma School District; Ruth Jacobson, Citizen.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    A planned program of positive interaction between children and senior citizens is a wonderful experience for everyone involved in these programs.  It is a way to provide one on one attention for children, additional support for teachers and social contact for senior citizens.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.