Senate File 75 SENATE FILE BY CONNOLLY Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to training programs for adult volunteers who 2 work with adolescent youths in after school mentoring 3 programs, and making an appropriation. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 2180SS 80 6 kh/sh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. There is appropriated 1 2 from the general fund of the state to the department of 1 3 education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and 1 4 ending June 30, 2004, the following amount, or so much thereof 1 5 as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated: 1 6 For purposes of entering into a competitively bid contract 1 7 with a not=for=profit organization to conduct a series of 1 8 training programs for adult volunteers who work with 1 9 adolescent youths in after school mentoring programs, 1 10 including youth=serving organizations such as the big 1 11 brothers=big sisters association: 1 12 .................................................. $ 600,000 1 13 1. To be eligible for a contract under this section, a 1 14 not=for=profit organization must be able to demonstrate that 1 15 leading national experts in adolescent development 1 16 intervention programs will be utilized and that the programs 1 17 will use a variety of media to engage participants and assist 1 18 them in attaining the goals of the program. Programs shall be 1 19 designed to focus on the adult volunteers who assist in youth 1 20 development. Training content shall focus on all of the 1 21 following: 1 22 a. Development issues for youth. 1 23 b. Best practices to motivate, guide, and communicate with 1 24 youths. 1 25 c. Strategies for successful adult=to=youth interpersonal 1 26 relationships that are necessary for ongoing learning and 1 27 support. 1 28 2. The training programs shall strive to accomplish the 1 29 following: 1 30 a. Improve the quality and effectiveness of adult 1 31 volunteers to motivate, supervise, and communicate with 1 32 youths, and to sustain and encourage continued involvement 1 33 with youths over time. 1 34 b. Improve the quality and effectiveness of adult 1 35 volunteers so that the children the volunteers mentor, coach, 2 1 teach, or befriend maintain their involvement with youth= 2 2 serving organizations over time. 2 3 c. Encourage collaboration between all youth=serving 2 4 organizations throughout the state. 2 5 d. Provide cost=efficient, sustainable distance learning 2 6 to both rural and urban sites. 2 7 3. The department shall prepare and submit a report of the 2 8 activities and expenditures funded under the contract to the 2 9 chairpersons and ranking members of the standing committees on 2 10 education and to the joint appropriations subcommittees on 2 11 education by December 1, 2005. 2 12 EXPLANATION 2 13 This bill appropriates $600,000 to the department of 2 14 education from the general fund of the state for the fiscal 2 15 year 2003=2004 for purposes of entering into a competitively 2 16 bid contract with a not=for=profit organization to conduct a 2 17 series of training programs for adult volunteers who work with 2 18 adolescent youths in after school mentoring programs, 2 19 including youth=serving organizations such as the big 2 20 brothers=big sisters association. 2 21 To be eligible for a contract, a not=for=profit 2 22 organization must be able to demonstrate that leading national 2 23 experts in adolescent development intervention programs will 2 24 be utilized, that programs will make use of a variety of media 2 25 to engage and assist participants, and that programs will 2 26 focus on the adult volunteers who assist in youth development. 2 27 Training content must focus on development issues for 2 28 youth; best practices to motivate, guide, and communicate with 2 29 youths; and strategies for successful adult=to=youth 2 30 interpersonal relationships that are necessary for ongoing 2 31 learning and support. Training programs must strive to 2 32 improve the quality and effectiveness of adult volunteers; 2 33 encourage collaboration between all youth=serving 2 34 organizations throughout the state; and provide cost= 2 35 efficient, sustainable distance learning to both rural and 3 1 urban sites. 3 2 The department is directed to prepare and submit a report 3 3 of activities and expenditures funded under the contract to 3 4 the general assembly's education committees by December 1, 3 5 2005. 3 6 LSB 2180SS 80 3 7 kh/sh/8