The legislature finds that:
The Washington state leadership board has been a nonprofit organization with significant, vested interest in the improvement of Washington state through their service and dedication to marginalized students and their ability to bestow honors on behalf of the state.
There has been a lack of substantive extracurricular activities for historically marginalized students in Washington state to be involved in, and the Washington state leadership board has created equitable and accessible programs for marginalized students to succeed. The Washington state leadership board bridges the gap between student accessibility and student achievement by utilizing public and private funds to create three unique programs for marginalized students: The Washington world fellows program, boundless Washington program, and compassion scholars program.
The Washington world fellows program is a global leadership development program that provides students who may lack access with training that enhances high school academics, supports their trajectory into college, and establishes strong leadership traits. The program includes college preparation through research, mentoring, and preparation for college entrance exams, including the opportunity for students to participate in a global leadership exchange experience.
The boundless Washington program provides an opportunity for students with physical and sensory disabilities to develop leadership skills through the outdoors. Students with physical and sensory disabilities explore the outdoors through immersive excursions that students learn about through online curriculum and practice through outdoor activities with peers.
The compassion scholars program creates life-changing compassion scholars' excursions, with a delegation that includes students, elected officials, and community leaders, that focus on highlighting for high school students the positive work of public servants that have dedicated themselves to improving their community.
The Washington state leadership board has bestowed honors like the Washingtonian of the year and the organization of the year on behalf of the state for over 45 years.
This section modifies existing section 43.15.030. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The Washington state leadership board is designated a trustee for the state of Washington.
The purpose of the Washington state leadership board is to:
b.
Expand educational, sports, leadership, and/or employment opportunities for youth, veterans, and people with disabilities in Washington state by administering the following programs:
i. **Washington world fellows;**
ii. **Sports mentoring;**
iii. **Boundless Washington; and**
iv. **Compassion scholars**.
The Washington state leadership board may conduct activities in support of their mission.
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The Washington state leadership board is governed by a board of directors. The board of directors is composed of the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the secretary of state, who serve as ex officio, nonvoting members, and other officers and members as the Washington state leadership board designates. In addition, four legislators may be appointed to the board of directors as ex officio members in the following manner: One legislator from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, and one legislator from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
The Washington state leadership board shall appoint its executive director with the consent of the lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor may remove an executive director for cause if a majority of the Washington state leadership board votes for removal.
The board of directors shall adopt bylaws and establish governance and transparency policies.
The lieutenant governor's office may provide facilities and administrative support for the Washington state leadership board, where the work of the board aligns with the mission of the office. Assistance from the lieutenant governor's office may include, but is not limited to:
Collaboration with the Washington state leadership board on the Washington world fellows program, a college readiness and study abroad fellowship ;
Collaboration with the Washington state leadership board to administer the sports mentoring program as established under RCW 43.15.100 (as recodified by this act), a mentoring program to encourage underserved youth to join sports or otherwise participate in the area of sports. If approved by the board of directors, boundless Washington, an outdoor leadership program for young people with disabilities, shall satisfy the terms of the sports mentoring program; and
The compilation of a yearly financial report, which shall be made available to the appropriate committees of the legislature no later than January 15th of each year, detailing all revenues and expenditures associated with the Washington world fellows program and the sports mentoring program.
The legislature may make appropriations in support of the Washington state leadership board subject to the availability of funds.
The Washington state leadership board must post on its website detailed information on all funds received by the board and all expenditures by the board.
The Washington state leadership board account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from appropriations must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of this chapter.
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The Washington state leadership board special license plate account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from special license plate disposition under RCW 46.68.420 must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of this chapter. Only the executive director of the Washington state leadership board or the executive director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
The Washington state leadership board special license plate account may accept gifts, grants, or endowments from public and private sources that are made in trust or otherwise for the use and benefit of the purposes of this chapter.
This section modifies existing section 43.15.020. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The lieutenant governor serves as president of the senate and is responsible for making appointments to, and serving on, the committees and boards as set forth in this section.
The lieutenant governor serves on the following boards and committees:
Capitol furnishings preservation committee, RCW 27.48.040;
Washington higher education facilities authority, RCW 28B.07.030;
Productivity board, also known as the employee involvement and recognition board, RCW 41.60.015;
State finance committee, RCW 43.33.010;
State capitol committee, RCW 43.34.010;
Washington health care facilities authority, RCW 70.37.030;
State medal of merit nominating committee, RCW 1.40.020;
Medal of valor committee, RCW 1.60.020; and
Washington state leadership board, RCW 43.15.030 (as recodified by this act).
The lieutenant governor, and when serving as president of the senate, appoints members to the following boards and committees:
Civil legal aid oversight committee, RCW 2.53.010;
Office of public defense advisory committee, RCW 2.70.030;
Washington state gambling commission, RCW 9.46.040;
Sentencing guidelines commission, RCW 9.94A.860;
State building code council, RCW 19.27.070;
Financial education public-private partnership, RCW 28A.300.450;
Joint administrative rules review committee, RCW 34.05.610;
Capital projects advisory review board, RCW 39.10.220;
Select committee on pension policy, RCW 41.04.276;
Legislative ethics board, RCW 42.52.310;
Washington citizens' commission on salaries, RCW 43.03.305;
Legislative oral history committee, RCW 44.04.325;
State council on aging, RCW 43.20A.685;
State investment board, RCW 43.33A.020;
Capitol campus design advisory committee, RCW 43.34.080;
Washington state arts commission, RCW 43.46.015;
PNWER-Net working subgroup under chapter 43.147 RCW;
Community economic revitalization board, RCW 43.160.030;
Washington economic development finance authority, RCW 43.163.020;
Joint legislative audit and review committee, RCW 44.28.010;
Joint committee on energy supply and energy conservation, RCW 44.39.015;
Legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, RCW 44.48.010;
Washington horse racing commission, RCW 67.16.014;
Correctional industries board of directors, RCW 72.09.080;
Joint committee on veterans' and military affairs, RCW 73.04.150;
Joint legislative committee on water supply during drought, RCW 90.86.020; and
aa. Statute law committee, RCW 1.08.001.
This section modifies existing section 43.15.095. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The legislative youth advisory council is established to examine issues of importance to youth, including but not limited to education, employment, strategies to increase youth participation in state and municipal government, safe environments for youth, substance abuse, emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty, homelessness, and youth access to services on a statewide and municipal basis.
The council consists of at least twenty-two members as provided in this subsection who, at the time of appointment, are aged fourteen to eighteen. The council shall select a chair from among its members.
Members shall serve two-year terms and, if eligible, may be reappointed for subsequent two-year terms.
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Students may apply annually to be considered for participation in the program by completing an online application form and submitting the application to the legislative youth advisory council. The council may develop selection criteria and an application review process. The council shall recommend candidates whose names will be submitted to the office of the lieutenant governor for final selection. The office of the lieutenant governor shall notify all applicants of the final selections.
The office of the lieutenant governor shall make the application available on the lieutenant governor's website.
Subject to the supervision of the office of the lieutenant governor, the council shall have the following duties:
Advising the legislature on proposed and pending legislation, including state budget expenditures and policy matters relating to youth;
Advising the standing committees of the legislature and study commissions, committees, and task forces regarding issues relating to youth;
Conducting periodic seminars for its members regarding leadership, government, and the legislature;
Accepting and soliciting for grants and donations from public and private sources to support the activities of the council; and
Reporting annually by December 1st to the legislature on its activities, including proposed legislation that implements recommendations of the council.
In carrying out its duties under this section, the council must meet at least three times per year. The council is encouraged to use technology, such as remote videoconferencing technology, to facilitate members' participation in meetings. The council is encouraged to invite local state legislators to participate in the meetings. The council is encouraged to poll other students in order to get a broad perspective on various policy issues. The council is encouraged to use technology to conduct polling.
Members may be reimbursed as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
The office of the lieutenant governor shall provide administration, supervision, and facilitation support to the council. In facilitating the program, the office of the lieutenant governor may collaborate with the Washington state leadership board established in RCW 43.15.030 (as recodified by this act). The senate and house of representatives may provide policy and fiscal briefings and assistance with drafting proposed legislation. The senate and the house of representatives shall each develop internal policies relating to staff assistance provided to the council. Such policies may include applicable internal personnel and practices guidelines, resource use and expense reimbursement guidelines, and applicable ethics mandates. Provision of funds, resources, and staff, as well as the assignment and direction of staff, remains at all times within the sole discretion of the chamber making the provision.
The office of the lieutenant governor, the legislature, any agency of the legislature, and any official or employee of such office or agency are immune from liability for any injury that is incurred by or caused by a member of the legislative youth advisory council and that occurs while the member of the council is performing duties of the council or is otherwise engaged in activities or receiving services for which reimbursement is allowed under subsection (7) of this section. The immunity provided by this subsection does not apply to an injury intentionally caused by the act or omission of an employee or official of the office of the lieutenant governor, the legislature, or any agency of the legislature.
This section modifies existing section 43.15.100. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The sports mentoring program is established to enable eligible nonprofit community-based organizations to provide opportunities for underserved youth to join sports teams or otherwise participate in the area of sports. The goal of the program is to support youth in building self-confidence, developing skills in the areas of goal setting and collaboration, and promoting a healthy lifestyle through forming positive relationships with peers and family, avoiding risky or delinquent behavior, and achieving educational success. Proceeds from the Seattle Mariners special license plate, issued under RCW 46.18.200, must be deposited into the Seattle Mariners account in accordance with RCW 46.68.420. Funds in the account may only be used, except as provided under RCW 46.68.420(6), for grants to support youth to stay in school, participate in sports, and receive mentorships.
The Washington state leadership board may issue competitive grants to eligible organizations. The following criteria must be used to prioritize applications:
Services provided by the organization to program participants are provided without a fee;
Eligible organizations must assist children with enrolling in sports through their parents, guardians, or coach; and
Eligible organizations must provide professional staff support to the mentor, child, and parent.
Eligible organizations must meet the following requirements:
Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization;
Conduct national criminal background checks for all employees and volunteer mentors who work with children;
Have adopted standards for care including staff training, health and safety standards, and mechanisms for assessing and enforcing the program's compliance with the standards adopted;
Ensure that sixty percent or more of the children they serve are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch;
Provide free, direct services to children through volunteer mentoring; and
Provide professional oversight of all mentoring relationships for each child served.