There is hereby created a program of financial aid to students pursuing a post-secondary education which shall be known as the state work-study program.

Severability—1974 ex.s. c 177: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1974 ex.s. c 177 s 10.]

The purpose of the program created in RCW 28B.12.010 is to provide financial assistance to needy students, including needy students from middle-income families, attending eligible post-secondary institutions in the state of Washington by stimulating and promoting their employment, thereby enabling them to pursue courses of study at such institutions. An additional purpose of this program shall be to provide such needy students, wherever possible, with employment related to their academic or vocational pursuits.

Severability—1974 ex.s. c 177: See note following RCW 28B.12.010.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Eligible institution" means any postsecondary institution in this state accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, or a campus of a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the student achievement council for purposes of this section, that is eligible for federal student financial aid assistance and has operated as a nonprofit college or university delivering on-site classroom instruction for a minimum of twenty consecutive years within the state of Washington, or any public technical college in the state.

(2) "Financial need" has the same meaning as in RCW 28B.92.030.

(3) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.

Findings—Intent—2019 c 406: See note following RCW 43.79.195.

Findings—Short title—2019 c 406: See notes following RCW 28B.92.200.

Findings—2019 c 406: See note following RCW 28B.94.020.

Findings—Intent—2019 c 406: See note following RCW 28C.30.050.

Findings—Intent—2019 c 406: See note following RCW 43.216.135.

Effective date—2012 c 229 ss 101, 117, 401, 402, 501 through 594, 601 through 609, 701 through 708, 801 through 821, 902, and 904: See note following RCW 28B.77.005.

Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 11 ss 101-103, 106-202, 204-244, and 301: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Intent—2011 1st sp.s. c 11: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Severability—1974 ex.s. c 177: See note following RCW 28B.12.010.

The office shall develop and administer the state work-study program. The office may create and enter into agreements with employers and eligible institutions to implement this chapter.

Effective date—2012 c 229 ss 101, 117, 401, 402, 501 through 594, 601 through 609, 701 through 708, 801 through 821, 902, and 904: See note following RCW 28B.77.005.

Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 11 ss 101-103, 106-202, 204-244, and 301: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Intent—2011 1st sp.s. c 11: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Intent—Effective date—Disposition of property and funds—Assignment/delegation of contractual rights or duties—2009 c 560: See notes following RCW 18.06.080.

Severability—1974 ex.s. c 177: See note following RCW 28B.12.010.

Purpose—1974 ex.s. c 177: See RCW 28B.12.020.

(1) The office shall disburse state work-study funds. In performing its duties under this section, the office shall consult eligible institutions and postsecondary education advisory and governing bodies. The office shall establish criteria designed to achieve such distribution of assistance under this chapter among students attending eligible institutions as will most effectively carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(2) Funds appropriated for compensation of students placed at state work-study employers must not exceed 80 percent of the total compensation paid to students, subject to the following exceptions:

(a) Off-campus community service placements; and

(b) Placements at public and nonprofit employers that seek to increase postsecondary enrollment for high school students.

(3) The office shall define and approve, and may determine salary matching requirements for, community service placements and placements at public and nonprofit employers that seek to increase postsecondary enrollment for high school students.

Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 11 ss 101-103, 106-202, 204-244, and 301: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Intent—2011 1st sp.s. c 11: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Construction—Application of rules—1987 c 330: "This act shall not be construed as affecting any existing right acquired or liability or obligation incurred under the sections amended or repealed in this act or under any rule, regulation, or order adopted under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted under those sections. The rules of the agencies abolished by this act shall continue in force until acted upon by the succeeding agency and shall be enforced by the succeeding agency. If there is no succeeding agency, the rules shall terminate." [ 1987 c 330 s 1401.]

Severability—1987 c 330: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1987 c 330 s 1402.]

Severability—1974 ex.s. c 177: See note following RCW 28B.12.010.

(1) Within existing resources, the office of student financial assistance shall establish the work-study opportunity grant for high-demand occupations, a competitive grant program to encourage job placements in high-demand fields. The office shall award grants to eligible institutions of higher education that have developed a partnership with a proximate organization willing to host work-study placements. Partner organizations may be nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms, or public agencies. Eligible institutions of higher education must verify that all job placements will last for a minimum of one academic quarter or one academic semester, depending on the system used by the eligible institution of higher education.

(2) The office may adopt rules to identify high-demand fields for purposes of this section. The legislature recognizes that the high-demand fields identified by the office may differ in different regions of the state.

(3) The office may award grants to eligible institutions of higher education that cover both student wages and program administration.

(4) The office shall develop performance benchmarks regarding program success including, but not limited to, the number of students served, the amount of employer contributions, and the number of participating high-demand employers.

Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 11 ss 101-103, 106-202, 204-244, and 301: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Intent—2011 1st sp.s. c 11: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2009 c 215: See notes following RCW 28B.92.030.

The office of student financial assistance shall adopt rules as may be necessary or appropriate for effecting the provisions of this chapter, and not in conflict with this chapter, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act. Such rules shall include provisions designed to make employment under the work-study program reasonably available, to the extent of available funds, to all eligible needy students in eligible postsecondary institutions. The rules shall include:

(1) Providing work under the state work-study program that will not result in the displacement of employed workers or impair existing contracts for services;

(2) Furnishing work only to a student who:

(a) Is capable, in the opinion of the eligible institution, of maintaining good standing in such course of study while employed under the program covered by the agreement; and

(b) Has been accepted for enrollment as at least a half-time student at the eligible institution or, in the case of a student already enrolled in and attending the eligible institution, is in good standing and in at least half-time attendance there either as an undergraduate, graduate or professional student; and

(c) Is not pursuing a degree in theology;

(3) Placing priority on providing:

(a) Work opportunities for students who are residents of the state of Washington as defined in RCW 28B.15.012 and 28B.15.013, particularly former foster youth as defined in *RCW 28B.92.060;

(b) Job placements in fields related to each student's academic or vocational pursuits, with an emphasis on off-campus job placements whenever appropriate; and

(c) Off-campus community service placements;

(4) To the extent practicable, limiting the proportion of state subsidy expended upon nonresident students to fifteen percent, or such less amount as specified in the biennial appropriations act;

(5) Provisions to assure that in the state institutions of higher education, utilization of this work-study program:

(a) Shall only supplement and not supplant classified positions under jurisdiction of chapter 41.06 RCW;

(b) That all positions established which are comparable shall be identified to a job classification under the director of personnel's classification plan and shall receive equal compensation;

(c) Shall not take place in any manner that would replace classified positions reduced due to lack of funds or work; and

(d) That work-study positions shall only be established at entry-level positions of the classified service unless the overall scope and responsibilities of the position indicate a higher level; and

(6) Provisions to encourage job placements in high employer demand occupations that meet Washington's economic development goals, including those in international trade and international relations. The office shall permit appropriate job placements in other states and other countries.

*Reviser's note: RCW 28B.92.060 was repealed by 2019 c 406 s 79.

Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 11 ss 101-103, 106-202, 204-244, and 301: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Intent—2011 1st sp.s. c 11: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Findings—Intent—2005 c 93: See note following RCW 74.13.570.

Short title—Headings, captions not law—Severability—Effective dates—2002 c 354: See RCW 41.80.907 through 41.80.910.

Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 18: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993." [ 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 38.]

Effective date—1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.

Construction—Application of rules—Severability—1987 c 330: See notes following RCW 28B.12.050.

Severability—1974 ex.s. c 177: See note following RCW 28B.12.010.

Each eligible institution shall submit to the office of student financial assistance an annual report in accordance with such requirements as are adopted by the office.

Effective date—2012 c 229 ss 101, 117, 401, 402, 501 through 594, 601 through 609, 701 through 708, 801 through 821, 902, and 904: See note following RCW 28B.77.005.

Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 11 ss 101-103, 106-202, 204-244, and 301: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Intent—2011 1st sp.s. c 11: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Severability—1974 ex.s. c 177: See note following RCW 28B.12.010.