Improving access to educational services by reducing barriers to obtaining vital records and allowing alternative forms of documentation.

 S-1047.1

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5030

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators C. Wilson, Cortes, Harris, Hasegawa, Krishnadasan, Nobles, Saldaña, Salomon, Trudeau, Valdez, and Wellman)

READ FIRST TIME 01/30/25.

AN ACT Relating to improving access to educational services by reducing barriers to obtaining vital records and allowing alternative forms of documentation; amending RCW 70.58A.560 ; adding a new section to chapter 43.216 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.225 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that reducing barriers to enrollment in early learning programs and public schools will increase enrollment and well-being for students and families. The legislature finds that fees to obtain vital records, including birth certificates, present a burden to families earning lower incomes. The legislature therefore resolves to improve access to education services by waiving fees to obtain birth certificates for families receiving certain types of public assistance and allowing alternative forms of documentation for enrollment.

Sec. 2. RCW 70.58A.560 and 2019 c 148 s 24 are each amended to read as follows: