HB 2484
In CommitteeHouse
Youth development fund
Creating the youth development fund account to increase access to positive youth development programs.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill establishes the youth development fund account to support community-based programs that help young people ages 5–24 succeed through activities like mentoring, after-school and summer programs, and career preparation. It allows the state to accept and manage public and private investments, and directs the superintendent of public instruction to award grants equitably across the state, prioritizing underserved communities.
- Creates the youth development fund account in the state treasury to centralize public and private investments in youth programs.
- Authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to award grants to nonprofits, tribes, parks departments, and (only under limited conditions) school districts to support youth development programs.
- Defines eligible programs as those supporting social-emotional learning, mentorship, career pathways, arts, STEM, outdoor education, civic engagement, and more for youth ages 5–24.
- Requires grant recipients to submit annual impact reports to the superintendent of public instruction.
- Prioritizes funding for programs in areas with the least access to youth development opportunities and for youth in foster care, experiencing homelessness, living in poverty, or historically underserved academically.
- Reenacts and amends RCW 43.79A.040 to include the youth development fund in the list of accounts that receive investment earnings from the state treasurer’s trust fund.
Who is affected
- Community-based youth program providers — Nonprofit organizations, tribes, and city/county parks and recreation departments that can apply for grants to run youth development programs.
- Public school districts and educational service districts — School districts and educational service districts may apply only if partnering with community groups or if no such programs exist locally.
- Youth (ages 5–24), especially those facing barriers to opportunity — Children and young adults ages 5–24, especially those from historically underserved communities, in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or living in poverty.
- State agencies (Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Treasurer) — The state treasurer manages the fund and invests its assets; the office of the superintendent of public instruction administers grants and oversight.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The requirement to prioritize equitable geographic distribution and underserved youth—including those in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or living in poverty—directs resources to communities with the greatest need, potentially improving academic outcomes, reducing system involvement, and increasing access to critical wraparound services.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(c)(i) & (ii)By funding mentorship, social-emotional learning, and career pathways outside school hours, the bill helps reduce juvenile justice system involvement and school dropout rates—evidence shows such programs significantly lower arrest and recidivism rates among at-risk youth.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a) & (c)(ii)The creation of the youth development fund account enables the state to accept and manage private and public investments (e.g., philanthropy, federal grants), leveraging non-state dollars to expand youth services without requiring new recurring legislative appropriations.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 3(1)Mandating civic engagement and cultural programming in youth development programs supports broader social-emotional development, identity affirmation, and community participation—especially beneficial for historically marginalized youth who may not see themselves reflected in standard curricula.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(b)(viii) & (ix)Annual impact reporting by grantees creates accountability and enables evidence-based program improvement, helping ensure that funds translate into measurable outcomes for youth—particularly valuable for tracking progress for vulnerable populations.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)
Potential Concerns (4)
The bill allows the state treasurer to deduct administrative banking fees from investment earnings before distributing them to trust accounts—including the youth development fund—potentially reducing grant funds available to community programs without requiring legislative appropriation or oversight.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 3(3)While school districts may apply for grants only when partnering with community organizations or when no such programs exist locally, this restriction may inadvertently disincentivize school districts from developing their own youth programs, potentially weakening in-house capacity and long-term program sustainability in underserved districts.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)The automatic sunset of key provisions in 2030 creates uncertainty for long-term planning by grantees and may discourage sustained investment by private donors or nonprofits, undermining program stability and continuity—especially for youth in high-risk situations who rely on consistent support.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 6 (sunset date: 2030-07-01)The bill prioritizes historically underserved youth but does not mandate data-driven accountability for whether grants actually reach the most marginalized subgroups (e.g., youth in foster care, experiencing homelessness), leaving implementation vulnerable to administrative discretion and potential underfunding of the most vulnerable.
EducationRef: Sec. 2(1)(c)(ii)
Who Is Most Affected
Community-based nonprofits and tribes are primary grant recipients and will gain access to new, potentially stable funding streams. However, they may face administrative burdens (e.g., reporting requirements) and uncertainty due to the 2030 sunset, which could discourage long-term investment.
School districts can only apply if partnering with community groups or in areas with no existing programs—this may strengthen cross-sector collaboration but could also reduce district autonomy and discourage in-house program development, especially in districts lacking strong community partnerships.
Youth ages 5–24, especially those in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or living in poverty, are the intended beneficiaries. The bill’s equity-focused design has strong potential to improve access to critical developmental supports, though long-term impact depends on sustained funding and effective implementation.
OSPI gains administrative authority over grant distribution and oversight, while the State Treasurer gains responsibility for managing the fund and investing its assets. Both agencies benefit from expanded roles, but OSPI must balance administrative capacity with equitable implementation—particularly in rural or low-resource regions.
Private donors and foundations may be incentivized to contribute to youth programs knowing funds will be centralized and transparently managed, potentially increasing philanthropic investment. However, the 2030 sunset may limit large-scale endowment-style giving, as donors may prefer permanent or longer-term structures.