Schools/resource conserv.

AN ACT Relating to promoting resource conservation practices that 1
include student education and leadership opportunities in public 2
schools; adding new sections to chapter 28A.300 RCW; and creating a 3
new section. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that resource 6
conservation practices can have broad application and value in 7
Washington's public schools, especially if students are active 8
participants in the programs and have appropriate education and 9
leadership opportunities.10
(2) The legislature, therefore, intends to create new and 11
expanded opportunities for student-involved resource conservation 12
practices in public schools through the establishment of a voluntary 13
green schools program that includes limited stipend funding for 14
school-based advisors. The legislature further intends for the 15
program, which will support awareness of environmental and climate 16
resilience issues, to be funded with revenues from the climate 17
commitment act. 18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 19
RCW to read as follows: 20
H-0167.1
HOUSE BILL 1134
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Bergquist, McEntire, Doglio, Ryu, Ramel, Reed,
Shavers, Paul, Callan, Pollet, Nance, Ormsby, and Hill
Prefiled 12/24/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Education.
p. 1 HB 1134
(1) The Washington state green schools program is established in 1
the office of the superintendent of public instruction to create and 2
expand resource conservation practices in public schools, including: 3
Waste reduction, energy reduction, water conservation, urban forestry 4
education, and environmental preservation; and education and 5
leadership opportunities for students seeking to promote conservation 6
practices in their schools. 7
(2) The green schools program is voluntary and is intended to:8
(a) Complement resource conservation programs for school 9
districts and public schools that are established by counties or 10
other entities by, in part, providing increased opportunities for 11
student education and leadership in resource conservation practices;12
(b) Provide opportunities for school districts and public schools 13
that cannot access or are not participating in resource conservation 14
programs to establish and promote resource conservation programs that 15
include student education and leadership opportunities;16
(c) Support instruction in climate curriculum aligned with the 17
state learning standards for science and integrated environmental and 18
sustainability; 19
(d) Provide opportunities for school districts and public schools 20
to collaborate with the department of natural resources for the 21
purposes of schoolyard greening projects, schoolyard forests, and 22
career-connected learning related to natural resource job 23
opportunities within the national forest school forest system network 24
and other urban forestry projects; and 25
(e) Complement education programs related to resource 26
conservation practices, and outdoor-based learning and education 27
experiences, including outdoor schools. 28
(3) For the purposes of this section, "public schools" has the 29
same meaning as in RCW 28A.150.010. 30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 31
RCW to read as follows: 32
(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 33
specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public 34
instruction shall establish and administer a program to provide 35
school-based advisor stipend assistance to school districts for the 36
purpose of creating or expanding resource conservation practices in 37
accordance with section 2 of this act. In administering the stipend 38
program, the office of the superintendent of public instruction may 39
p. 2 HB 1134
establish criteria for awarding stipend funds that prioritizes 1
schools and school districts where more than 50 percent of the 2
students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.3
(2) School districts that participate in the Washington state 4
green schools program established in section 2 of this act may, on 5
forms developed by the office of the superintendent of public 6
instruction, apply for stipend funds for school-based advisors that 7
assist students in learning about, promoting, and implementing 8
resource conservation practices in school facilities. Stipend funds 9
provided in accordance with this section may not exceed $600 per 10
school, per year, but the amount received may depend upon the number 11
of applicant school districts and available funding. Nothing in this 12
section prevents school districts from providing additional funding 13
for school-based advisors. 14
(3) For the purposes of this section, "school districts" include 15
school districts, charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 16
RCW, and state-tribal education compact schools subject to chapter 17
28A.715 RCW. 18
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p. 3 HB 1134