HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6538

BYSenate Committee on Economic Development & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Lee, Smitherman, Anderson and Rasmussen;by request of Employment Security Department)

Establishing a computerized labor market information system.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisher, Jones, R. King, O'Brien, Patrick, Sanders, Sayan, C. Smith and Walker.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7177)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR FEBRUARY 24, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Employment Security Department collects and reports Washington labor market information.  This information includes skills and availability of employees, prevailing wage information, training program information and labor surpluses and shortages.  Most of this information is not, however, available in a form that is easy for employers to use.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The legislature recognizes the interest of the state in providing labor market and training information to optimize human resources planning.  The Employment Security Department is directed to develop a computerized labor market information system for employer use.  Information available will include worker skills and availability, prevailing wage information, training programs and labor surpluses and shortages.

A user fee may be established by rule to defray the cost of the computerized labor market information system.

Any part of the act found to be in conflict with federal law is declared inoperative.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE:  The amended bill deletes the emergency clause but retains the effective date of July 1, 1988.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 25, 1988.

Effective Date:The bill takes effect on July 1, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Graeme Sackrison, Employment Security Department; and Vincent Roda, Washington State Hospital Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The computerized labor market information system will provide employers and other users with access to labor market information that is very useful but otherwise very difficult to obtain under the present system.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.