(1) Conservation corps members shall be unemployed residents of the state between eighteen and twenty-five years of age at the time of enrollment who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. The age requirements may be waived for corps leaders and specialists with special leadership or occupational skills; such members shall be given special responsibility for providing leadership, character development, and sense of community responsibility to the corps members, groups, and work crews to which they are assigned. The upper age requirement may be waived for residents who have a sensory or mental handicap. Special effort shall be made to recruit minority and disadvantaged youth who meet selection criteria of the conservation corps. Preference shall be given to youths residing in areas, both urban and rural, in which there exists substantial unemployment exceeding the state average unemployment rate.

     (2) The legislature finds that people with developmental disabilities would benefit from experiencing a meaningful work experience, and learning the value of labor and of membership in a productive society.

     The legislature urges state agencies that are participating in the Washington conservation corps program to consider for enrollment in the program people who have developmental disabilities, as defined in RCW 71A.10.020.

     If an agency chooses to enroll people with developmental disabilities in its Washington conservation corps program, the agency may apply to the United States department of labor, employment standards administration for a special subminimum wage certificate in order to be allowed to pay enrollees with developmental disabilities according to their individual levels of productivity.

     (3) Corps members shall not be considered state employees. Other provisions of law relating to civil service, hours of work, rate of compensation, sick leave, unemployment compensation, state retirement plans, and vacation leave do not apply to the Washington conservation corps except for the crew supervisors, who shall be project employees, and the administrative and supervisory personnel.

     (4) Enrollment shall be for a period of six months which may be extended for additional six-month periods by mutual agreement of the corps and the corps member, not to exceed two years. Corps members shall be reimbursed at the minimum wage rate established by state or federal law, whichever is higher, which may be increased by up to five percent for each additional six-month period worked: PROVIDED, That if agencies elect to run a residential program, the appropriate costs for room and board shall be deducted from the corps member's paycheck as provided in chapter 43.220 RCW.

     (5) Corps members are to be available at all times for emergency response services coordinated through the department of community, trade, and economic development or other public agency. Duties may include sandbagging and flood cleanup, search and rescue, and other functions in response to emergencies.

[1999 c 280 § 5; 1995 c 399 § 112; 1990 c 71 § 2; 1988 c 78 § 1; 1986 c 266 § 48. Prior: 1985 c 230 § 7; 1985 c 7 § 110; 1983 1st ex.s. c 40 § 7.]

NOTES:

     Legislative finding -- 1990 c 71: "The legislature finds that the Washington conservation corps has proven to be an effective method to provide meaningful work experience for many of the state's young persons. Because of recent, and possible future, increases in the minimum wage laws, it is necessary to make an adjustment in the limitation that applies to corps member reimbursements." [1990 c 71 § 1.]

     Severability -- 1986 c 266: See note following RCW 38.52.005.