AN ACT Relating to the Washington high-technology coordinating board; and amending RCW 28B.65.040, 28B.65.050, and 28B.65.060.

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

Sec. 1. Section 5, chapter 72, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess. as amended by section 1, chapter 66, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28B.65.040 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The Washington high-technology coordinating board is hereby created.

(2) The board shall be composed of ((~~seventeen~~)) eighteen members as follows:

(a) Eleven shall be citizen members appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, for four-year terms. In making the appointments the governor shall ensure that a balanced geographic representation of the state is achieved and shall attempt to choose persons experienced in high-technology fields, including at least one representative of labor. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before a term expires shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term; and

(b) ((~~Six~~)) Seven of the members shall be as follows: One representative from each of the state's two research universities, one representative of the state college and regional universities, the director for the state system of community colleges or the director's designee, the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee, ((~~and~~)) a representative of the council for postsecondary education or its statutory successor, and the director of the department of commerce and economic development or the director's designee.

(3) Members of the board shall not receive any salary for their services, but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 for each day actually spent in attending to duties as a member of the board.

(4) A citizen member of the board shall not be, during the term of office, a member of the governing board of any public or private educational institution, or an employee of any state or local agency.

Sec. 2. Section 6, chapter 72, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28B.65.050 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The board shall oversee and coordinate the high-technology education and training program.

(2) The board shall:

(a) Determine the specific high-technology occupational fields in which technical training is needed and advise the institutions of higher education and the council for postsecondary education or its statutory successor on their findings;

(b) Identify economic areas with high-technology industries in need of technical training critical to economic renewal or economic development and advise the institutions of higher education and the council for postsecondary education or its statutory successor on their findings;

(c) Oversee and coordinate the Washington high-technology education and training program to insure high standards, efficiency, and effectiveness;

(d) Work cooperatively with the superintendent of public instruction to identify the skills prerequisite to the high-technology programs in the institutions of higher education;

(e) Work cooperatively with and provide any information or advice which may be requested by the council for postsecondary education or its statutory successor during the council's review of new baccalaureate degree program proposals which are submitted under this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as altering or superseding the powers or prerogatives of the council for postsecondary education or its statutory successor over the review of new degree programs as established in RCW 28B.80.035;

(f) ((Prepare and submit a report to the 1984 legislature on whether or not high-technology education and training consortiums should be established between the state's community colleges and four-year colleges and universities pursuant to RCW 28B.65.080, including their geographic division and the pattern of cooperation between the community colleges and the four-year colleges and universities and shall investigate the establishment of such consortiums within existing resources)) Work cooperatively with the department of commerce and economic development to identify the high-technology education and training needs of existing Washington businesses and businesses with the potential to locate in Washington; and

(g) Prepare and submit to the legislature before the first day of each regular session an annual report on the Washington high-technology education and training program including, but not limited to:

(i) An evaluation of the program;

(ii) A determination of the feasibility of expanding the program; and

(iii) Recommendations, including recommendations for further legislation as the board deems necessary.

(3) The board may adopt rules under chapter 28B.19 RCW as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(4) The board shall cease to exist on June 30, 1987, unless extended by law for an additional fixed period of time.

Sec. 3. Section 7, chapter 72, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28B.65.060 are each amended to read as follows:

Staff support for the high-technology coordinating board shall be provided by existing staff of the council for postsecondary education or its statutory successor and the department of commerce and economic development.