H-1425.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1870

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Jones, Basich, Hargrove, Jacobsen, Riley, Fuhrman, R. Johnson, Wilson, Wineberry, Morris, Miller, Wynne, Wood, D. Sommers, Roland, Brumsickle, Rasmussen, Sprenkle and Orr.

 

Read first time February 13, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education\Appropriations.Providing higher education opportunities for people in economically depressed timber regions.


     AN ACT Relating to higher education; adding new sections to chapter 28B.50 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 28B.80 RCW; creating a new section; making appropriations; and declaring an emergency.

 

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

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      It is the intent of the legislature to:

     (1) Provide training and retraining opportunities for timber workers;

     (2) Provide additional opportunities for displaced timber workers and residents of timber communities to attend local community colleges;

     (3) Provide educational opportunities to displaced timber workers who reside in areas where access to a four-year institution of higher education is not available;

     (4) Provide educational opportunities in those communities that are most severely impacted by job losses in the timber industry; and

     (5) Provide a means for displaced timber workers to remain gainfully employed within their communities.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 RCW to read as follows:

     The state board for community college education shall administer a program designed to provide higher education opportunities to displaced timber workers and others in communities adversely affected by the loss of jobs in the timber industry.  In administering the program, the board shall have the following powers and duties:

     (1) Distribute funding to Grays Harbor and Peninsula community colleges;

     (2) Appoint an advisory committee to assist the board in program design and future project selection; and

     (3) Monitor the program and report on students' progress and outcome.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 RCW to read as follows:

     In addition to the allocation they normally receive, Grays Harbor Community College and Peninsula Community College are each authorized to serve one hundred fifty full-time equivalent students per year.  Under this program, the colleges shall waive the tuition, services, and activities fees for displaced timber workers and their spouses pursuant to the following conditions:

     (1) The timber worker, within the three years before enrolling as a student, was employed in the timber industry on a full-time basis for at least six months;

     (2) The unemployment of the timber worker is due to reduction in work force and not misconduct of the timber worker; and

     (3) The student is eligible to receive waivers for a total of nine quarters within a three-year time period and must be enrolled for a minimum of ten credits per quarter.

     Displaced timber workers and their spouses shall receive priority for attendance at the colleges.  Remaining allocations may be distributed to others in the community adversely affected by job losses in the timber industry.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

     The higher education coordinating board shall administer a program designed to provide upper division higher education opportunities to displaced timber workers and others in communities adversely affected by a loss of jobs in the timber industry.  In administering the program, the board shall have the following powers and duties:

     (1) Distribute funding for an institution of higher education to service Clallam county;

     (2) Appoint an advisory committee to assist the board in program design and future project selection; and

     (3) Monitor the program and report on student progress and outcome.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

     In consultation with Peninsula College, the higher education coordinating board shall contract with an institution of higher education to provide upper division classes to serve fifty full-time equivalent students per year in Clallam county.  The institution providing the service shall waive the tuition, service, and activities fees for displaced timber workers and their spouses under the following conditions:

     (1) The timber worker, within the three years before enrolling as a student, was employed in the timber industry on a full-time basis for at least six months;

     (2) The unemployment of the timber worker is due to reduction in work force and not misconduct of the timber worker; and

     (3) The student is eligible to receive waivers for a total of four semesters or quarters within a two-year time period and must be enrolled for a minimum of twelve credits per semester or quarter.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

     Displaced timber workers and their spouses shall receive priority for attendance in upper division courses offered in Clallam county.  Remaining allocations may be distributed to others in the community adversely affected by job losses in the timber industry.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.      The sum of two million eighteen thousand one hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the state board for community college education to carry out the purposes of sections 2 and 3 of this act.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.      The sum of five hundred forty-six thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the higher education coordinating board to carry out the purposes of sections 4 through 6 of this act.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.      This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.