HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1520

BYRepresentatives Jacobsen, Basich, Heavey, Unsoeld, Miller, Prince, Winsley, Silver, Wineberry, Anderson, Wang, P. King, Hine and Ferguson

Establishing a program to encourage students to participate in community service activities at institutions of higher education.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Fox, Jesernig, Miller, Nelson, Unsoeld and K. Wilson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Barnes and Silver.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION FEBRUARY 2, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The 1985 survey of entering college freshmen conducted by the American Council on Education and UCLA suggested that students were more interested in their careers than in their country and their communities.  Compared with their counterparts in 1966, the freshmen in 1985 had, according to the researchers, a "greater interest in material and power goals, coupled with decreased altruism."  New efforts are underway nationally and within selected institutions to combat society's perceived shift away from volunteerism, and to support student participation in philanthropic activities.

At the national level, Senator Pell of Rhode Island introduced legislation that would provide monthly stipends and college tuition for students who performed two years of community service.  Under the bill-the Voluntary National Service and Education Demonstration Program Act- students would get $600 per month while they were engaged in community service. Subsequently, participants would be entitled to a stipend of $250 per month plus tuition for 18 academic months.  The combined stipend and tuition could not exceed $7,200 per year.

In September of 1987, Governor Deukmejian of California signed a bill creating the California "Human Corps" within the University of California and California State University systems.  The legislation asks that all university students participate in 30 hours of volunteer work each academic year.  The university systems are directed to plan and implement strategies that provide opportunities for student volunteer efforts.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL: The legislature finds that increasing student participation in community service activities would benefit students, institutions of higher education, and other citizens of the state in a variety of meaningful ways.

Community Services Task Forces will be established at each four-year institution of higher education by May 15, 1988.  Each task force shall consult with representatives from all segments of the college community and community representatives from local schools, businesses, labor, government, and service organizations.  Independent institutions are strongly encouraged to establish task forces as well.

The Community Services Task Forces will be designed to examine the methods for accomplishing certain goals.  The goals include significantly increasing student participation in community service activities, and providing students with an opportunity to develop their skills in "real-world" learning experiences. Helping to develop and increase a sense of community service and social responsibility; and inviting cooperation among educational institutions, nonprofit agencies, and philanthropic organizations to assist in making opportunities available to students are additional goals.

The responsibilities of the task forces are outlined.  These responsibilities include: defining the criteria for determining activities qualifying as community service; surveying current student efforts; examining relationships between academic programs and community service opportunities; and assessing activities and placement mechanisms. Other tasks include:  determining programs and organizations that need assistants; exploring opportunities for enhancing cooperation with community efforts; and identifying the resources needed to implement the Community Service Corps at their institution.

The institutions of higher education will report the results of the Community Services Corps task forces, with any recommendations for state action, by December 1, 1988, to the House and Senate Higher Education Committees.

The task forces will no longer be required on December 31, 1991.

An emergency clause is attached.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The Community Services Corps Program is not created, but task forces are formed by May 15th rather than October 31st, to identify ways four-year institutions of higher education can assist students in participating in community service activities; community colleges will not form task forces; a report to the Higher Education Committees is required; and an expiration date and emergency clause are added.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 19, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Chris Igielski, Associated Students University of Washington.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Participating in efforts to improve life in a student's community should be an integral part of a student's education. Many students become somewhat isolated during their college years.  Creating opportunities to participate in community service activities would help students maintain contact with the needs of their communities.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.