Authority for Federal Agency Participation in Washington State Work-Study Program V. B-159715

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B-159715 1 (1978-12-18)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadgsm0001 and id is 1 raw text is:

a THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL
DECISION * OF THE UNITED STATES 554
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548

FILE: B-159715 DATE: December 18, 1978

MATTER OF: Washington State Work-Study Program - Federal Agency
Participation

DIGEST: There is no general authority for Federal agencies to
employ students and pay a portion of their compensation
under a college work-study program established by the
State of Washington. Some agencies may have specific
statutory authority which will allow participation in
such a program. If a State program can be coordinated
with a college under a Federal work-study agreement, the
Federal program may authorize student employment by a
Federal agency.

This decision responds to a request from the Chairman of the Civil
Service Commission (CSC). He has asked -whether a Federal agency may
participate in a college student work-study program which is not fed-
erally initiated and which is authorized by State rather than Federal
legislation.

Under Chapter 28B.12 of the Revised Code of Washington, the State
of Washington established a college work-study program similar to the
Federal work-study program, 42 U.S.C. § 2751 et seq. (1976). Under
this program, participating students are paid up to 80 percent of the
compensation for their work by the State and at least 20 percent by
their host employing agency. Section 28B.12.040 of the Revised Code
of Washington. The Chairman of the CSC states that a college in the
State of Washington has entered into an agreement with a Federal
agency to participate in the State work-study program. Under this
agreement, the agency would pay at least 35 percent of the students'
compensation. From discussion with CSC staff, we understand that the
CSC is interested in our decision with respect to the authority of
Federal agencies in general to participate in programs like the Wash-
ington State program. Accordingly, our decision does not address
any particular agreement, but considers the authority of Federal
agencies in general to participate in State-sponsored programs of
this type.

The Chairman himself takes no position but sets forth the
following two considerations as to whether Federal agencies can
participate in this program.

The work-study program sponsored by the state of
Washington combines, in a sense, federal and state funds
for which, it is argued by some, there is no federal