AN ACT Relating to the high-technology coordinating board; reenacting and amending RCW 28B.65.050; reenacting RCW 28B.65.040; and making an appropriation.

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

Sec. 1. Section 5, chapter 72, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess. as last amended by section 86, chapter 370, Laws of 1985 and by section 1, chapter 381, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28B.65.040 are each reenacted to read as follows:

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

(2) The board shall be composed of 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) 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, a representative of the higher education coordinating board, and the director of the department of trade 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. as amended by section 87, chapter 370, Laws of 1985 and by section 2, chapter 381, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28B.65.050 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The board shall oversee, coordinate, and evaluate high-technology programs.

(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 higher education coordinating board on their findings;

(b) Identify economic areas and high-technology industries in need of technical training and research and development critical to economic development and advise the institutions of higher education and the higher education coordinating board 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 higher education coordinating board during the board'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 higher education coordinating board over the review of new degree programs as established in RCW ((~~28B.80.035~~)) 28B.80.340;

(f) Work cooperatively with the department of trade 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;

(g) Work towards increasing private sector participation and contributions in Washington high-technology programs;

(h) Identify and evaluate the effectiveness of state sponsored research related to high technology;

(i) Establish and maintain a plan, including priorities, to guide high-technology program development in public institutions of higher education, which plan shall include an assessment of current high-technology programs, steps to increase existing programs, new initiatives and programs necessary to promote high technology, and methods to coordinate and target high-technology programs to changing market opportunities in business and industry;

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

(i) An evaluation of each 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The sum of two hundred eighty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated to the department of trade and economic development for the high-technology coordinating board from the state general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, to carry out the purposes of this act.