Service grant program

AN ACT Relating to creating the Washington dream act service 1
incentive program; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; and 2
creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The definitions in this section apply 5
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires 6
otherwise.7
(1) "Eligible student" means a student who meets the necessary 8
program requirements under section 3 of this act. 9
(2) "Institution of higher education" has the same meaning as in 10
RCW 28B.92.030. 11
(3) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance 12
created in RCW 28B.76.090. 13
(4) "Approved institution or organization" means an institution 14
of higher education, nonprofit organization, for-profit business 15
entity, or a governmental entity approved for participation in the 16
Washington dream act service incentive grant program by the office 17
under section 4 of this act. 18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The Washington dream act service 19
incentive grant program is established in accordance with this act 20
S-0382.2
SENATE BILL 5115
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Valdez, Trudeau, Hasegawa, Krishnadasan, Nobles, Saldaña,
and C. Wilson
Prefiled 12/24/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Higher Education & Workforce Development.
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for the purpose of awarding grants to eligible students for community 1
or volunteer service. The office shall develop and administer the 2
service incentive grant program and may create and enter into 3
agreements with employers and institutions of higher education to 4
implement this chapter. 5
(2) Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, the office shall 6
disperse grant awards to approved institutions for the awarding of 7
grants to eligible students for the completion of hours of service 8
for an approved institution or organization. 9
(3)(a) Grant awards shall be based on an eligible student's 10
financial need as determined by the office through the Washington 11
application for state financial aid. Student eligibility for the 12
grant program shall be determined by the office of student financial 13
aid of the institution of higher education in which the student is 14
enrolled or in which they have indicated that they will attend.15
(b)(i) In calculating the awarding of grants and final grant 16
award amounts, the institution of higher education must take into 17
consideration other grants or financial aid that an eligible student 18
has been awarded. 19
(ii) Once a student is identified as eligible and an award is 20
calculated, the institution of higher education shall submit 21
anticipated awards and payment requests to the office using a process 22
established by the office. 23
(iii) Grant awards per term shall be calculated by multiplying 24
the number of hours of service to be performed per week by the number 25
of weeks in the academic term by the adjusted minimum wage rate 26
calculated by the department of labor and industries under RCW 27
49.46.020(2)(b), with consideration of other awarded financial aid 28
under (b)(i) of this subsection. 29
(c) Grant awards shall be disbursed by the institution of higher 30
education at the beginning of the academic term. 31
(4) The community or volunteer service performed by the 32
participating student: 33
(a) May not exceed 19 hours per week; and 34
(b) May not be advocacy of a political or religious nature.35
(5)(a) The office shall establish a standardized method of 36
verification of completed service for participating students. Upon 37
verification of performed service by the institution of higher 38
education, the office of student financial aid of the institution of 39
higher education shall approve the grant for the subsequent academic 40
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term unless the student is otherwise no longer eligible to 1
participate in the program. 2
(b) If a participating student does not provide the documentation 3
required under (a) of this subsection, the institution of higher 4
education shall lease the estimated award in a nondisbursing status.5
(6) Preference for participation in the program must be given to 6
eligible students who are not eligible for participation in the state 7
work-study program under chapter 28B.12 RCW. 8
(7) A grant awarded under the program shall not offset or replace 9
any other source of grant aid including, but not limited to, 10
institutional aid and scholarships. 11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) In order to be eligible to participate 12
in the Washington dream act service incentive grant program, a 13
student must meet the following requirements:14
(a) The student must be a resident student as defined in RCW 15
28B.96.010; 16
(b) The student has completed the Washington application for 17
state financial aid; 18
(c) The student has indicated that they will attend an 19
institution of higher education or is enrolled for at least six 20
quarter credits or the equivalent semester credits and is making 21
satisfactory progress in a program, as defined in rule by the office, 22
at an institution of higher education; 23
(d) The student has demonstrated financial need as defined in RCW 24
28B.92.030; and 25
(e) The student must not qualify for federally funded student 26
financial aid because of their immigration status.27
(2) Determination of a student's eligibility for the Washington 28
dream act service incentive grant program under this chapter shall be 29
made by the office of student financial aid of the institution of 30
higher education in which the student is enrolled or in which they 31
have indicated that they will attend. 32
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) In order for community or volunteer 33
service performed by a participating student to be eligible for this 34
program, the organization or institution must:35
(a) Register with the office; and 36
(b) Be one of the following: 37
(i) A federal, state, or local governmental entity;38
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(ii) An institution of higher education located in the state of 1
Washington; 2
(iii) An organization exempt from federal income tax under 3
section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code;4
(iv) A private sector for-profit business entity producing a good 5
or providing a service for sale or resale to others, which can and 6
agrees to provide hours of service for eligible students of a 7
demonstratable benefit related to the student's postsecondary 8
educational pursuits and which conducts business within the state of 9
Washington; or 10
(v) Any other entity approved by the office. 11
(2) The following types of institutions, organizations, or 12
entities are not eligible to participate: 13
(a) Any institution, organization, or entity directing students 14
to perform service in positions that directly involve religious 15
worship, exercise, or instruction; 16
(b) Any institution, organization, or entity directing students 17
to perform service in positions that directly involve political 18
activity, including partisan and nonpartisan political activity;19
(c) Any institution, organization, or entity which does not 20
comply with appropriate federal, state, and civil rights laws; and21
(d) Any institution, organization, or entity in which a 22
participating student is an owner, part owner, board member, or 23
executive. 24
(3) An approved institution, organization, or entity must report 25
the service hours of the participating students according to the 26
process established by the office. 27
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The office may adopt rules necessary for 28
the effective and efficient implementation of this act.29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act 30
constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.31
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If specific funding for the purposes of 32
this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not 33
provided by June 30, 2025, in the omnibus appropriations act, this 34
act is null and void.35
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