Z-347                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5203

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Gaspard, Benitz, McDermott, Bailey, Bauer, Johnson, Bender, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke, Rinehart, von Reichbauer, Barr, Garrett and Moore; by request of Commission for Vocational Education

Read first time 1/19/87 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to the Washington award for vocational excellence; amending RCW 28B.15.545, 28C.04.530, 28C.04.525, and 28C.04.545; adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 6, chapter 267, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 31, chapter 390, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28B.15.545 are each amended to read as follows:

          The boards of regents and trustees of the state universities, regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges shall waive tuition and services and activities fees for a maximum of ((one academic)) two years, including summer quarters and semesters, for recipients of the Washington award for vocational excellence established under RCW 28C.04.520 through 28C.04.540.  To qualify for the waiver, recipients shall enter the college or university within three years of receiving the award.  A minimum grade point average at the college or university equivalent to 3.00 in the first year shall be required to qualify for the second-year waiver.

        Sec. 2.  Section 3, chapter 267, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28C.04.530 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The commission for vocational education or a successor agency shall have the responsibility for the development and administration of the Washington award for vocational excellence program.  The commission or successor agency shall develop the program in consultation with other state agencies and private organizations having interest and responsibility in vocational education, including but not limited to:  The state board for community college education, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, a voluntary professional association of vocational educators, and representatives from business, labor, and industry.

          (2) The commission or successor agency shall establish a planning committee to develop the criteria for screening and selecting the students who will receive the award.  This criteria shall include but not be limited to the following characteristics:  Proficiency in their chosen fields, attendance, attitude, character, leadership, and civic contributions.

        Sec. 3.  Section 2, chapter 267, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28C.04.525 are each amended to read as follows:

          The Washington award for vocational excellence program is  established.  The purposes of this annual program are to:

          (1) Maximize public awareness of the achievements, leadership ability, and community contributions of the state's public  vocational-technical students;

          (2) Emphasize the dignity of work in our society;

          (3) Instill respect for those who become skilled in crafts and technology;

          (4) Recognize the value of vocational education and its contribution to the economy of this state;

          (5) Foster business, labor, and community involvement in vocational-technical training programs and in this award program; and

          (6) Recognize the outstanding achievements of  up to three ((graduating vocational  or technical)) vocational-technical students, including graduating high school students and students who have completed one year of a vocational-technical program in a community college or vocational-technical institute, in each legislative district.

        Sec. 4.  Section 7, chapter 267, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28C.04.545 are each amended to read as follows:

          The respective governing boards of the public vocational-technical institutes shall provide fee waivers for a maximum of ((one school)) two years for recipients of the Washington award for vocational excellence established under RCW 28C.04.520 through 28C.04.540.  To qualify for the waiver, recipients shall enter the public vocational-technical institute within three years of receiving the award.  An above average rating at the vocational-technical institute in the first year shall be required to qualify for the second-year waiver.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:

          Students receiving the Washington award for vocational excellence in 1987 and thereafter are eligible for a second-year waiver.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Section 3 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1988.