SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6264
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Higher Education, January 28, 2008
Title: An act relating to clarifying terms for workforce and economic development.
Brief Description: Clarifying terms for workforce and economic development.
Sponsors: Senator Shin; by request of Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education: 1/28/08 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6264 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Shin, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair; Delvin, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Schoesler and Sheldon.
Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)
Background: The terms "high employer demand program of study", industry "sector", and "work activity" are used inconsistently in a number of contexts. A Governor's workgroup that included members from the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB); the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC); the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED); the Employment Security Department; the Department of Labor and Industries; the Higher Education Coordinating Board; and the Council of Presidents worked over the 2007 legislative interim to develop common meanings for these terms.
Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The SBCTC definition of "high employer
demand program of study" is "an apprenticeship undergraduate or graduate certificate or degree
program in which the number of students prepared for employment per year from in-state
institutions is substantially less than the number of projected job openings per year in that field,
statewide or in a substate region." For purposes of the Opportunity Grant program, the SBCTC
will use this new term instead of "job specific training program" that presently, but would no
longer, include a factor looking at programs in which training capacity is underutilized.
The DCTED uses the term "industry cluster" to identify geographic concentrations of
interdependent competitive firms that do business with each other. This term is expanded to
include governmental and educational institutions. The term is replaced with the term "sector"
and "industry sector". "Sector" is defined as a group of industries with similar business processes,
products, or services as categorized by the North American Industry Classification System.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): Apprenticeships are added to the list of programs that may meet the definition of high employer demand programs of study.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: These definitions clarify commonly used terms. Employing a common definition will help the WTECB in its efforts to link workforce training, education, and economic development. The addition of apprenticeships is an important recognition of the contributions of all educational providers. The bill does not change policy, but is important in the policy-making process to make sure that all the parties are talking about the same thing.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Shin, prime sponsor; Bryan Wilson, WTECB; Carolyn Cummins, SBCTC; Steve Lindstrom, Northwest Career Colleges Federation.