HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2983

BYRepresentatives Wineberry, Vekich, Prentice, Peery and Anderson

Establishing the youth career skills pilot project.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass. (9)

      Signed by Representatives Vekich, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Smith, Ranking Republican Member, Forner, Jones, R. King, Leonard, Prentice and Wolfe.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR FEBRUARY 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In Washington, youth unemployment has remained at high levels during the recent economic recovery years.  In some urban areas, youth unemployment is as much as three times higher than unemployment in the total labor force.  At the same time, school dropout rates remain high and the jobs available in the labor force are requiring greater skills.  Under the Job Training and Partnership Act and other training programs, youth employment training is provided for only a small percentage of the youth eligible for training assistance. Similar problems have been addressed in other states through programs that form partnerships between schools, training agencies, and the public and private sector.

SUMMARY:

LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The recent expansion and growth in the state's economy has not reached the youth in the labor force.  The unemployment rates of youth remain at higher levels than any other demographic group.  To assist at-risk youth, the youth career skills pilot project is created to establish intervention programs and assist youth to enhance their academic achievement and improve their long-term employment prospects.

CAREER SKILLS CENTER PILOT PROJECT

Establishment of the career skills center pilot project

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is authorized to grant matching funds to selected middle and junior high schools in districts with high dropout rates, high youth unemployment, and high youth crime rates, for establishing a career skills center pilot project.  The pilot projects may be conducted for up to eight years if funding is provided.

The career skills center program

The career skills center program will include meetings with at-risk youth (including school dropouts) in small groups and/or individually to:

(1)  Counsel on career ambitions, including both short-term (after school and summer) and long-term career goals.

(2)  Based on an assessment of goals, develop and implement an education, employability development, and/or job readiness curriculum for each student who participates in the counseling program.

The program is responsible for:

(1)  Coordinating/facilitating placement in appropriate jobs, training for jobs or apprenticeship programs, or continuing academics as determined by the individual career counseling.

(2)  Coordinating the counseling/assessment resources of the school district and the Employment Security Department.  This will include co-location of personnel from the Employment Security Department in the school.

(3)  Developing mentoring programs and cooperative programs with businesses, labor organizations, and community groups that are intended to provide job training and job opportunities, and academic assistance for students.

(4)  Establishing a partnership with a vocational school or community college to provide the services.

(5)  Developing and implementing evaluation criteria, including long-term follow-up of the students in the program to evaluate the student's subsequent labor market participation and, as appropriate, to assist in developing additional training; and developing comparative data on the labor market participation of students who receive services from the center and students who do not receive services.

(6)  Presenting an annual report to the Legislature.

SATELLITE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE OF THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT

Evaluation of needs

The Employment Security Department will undertake an evaluation of the employment and training needs of at-risk youth, including school dropouts, in urban areas with high youth unemployment and report its findings to the Legislature by December 15, 1991.

Location of a satellite youth employment office

Based on the department findings, the department will develop and locate a satellite youth employment office.  The office will offer the services proposed under the evaluation that will facilitate career development among at-risk youth.  The services may include job preparation training, job and apprenticeship program placement, and education/training placement, as appropriate.  The services will include outreach programs to notify the community that career opportunities are available through the office and follow-up with youth identified as "at-risk" or who have dropped out of school.  The youth employment office may continue for eight years if funding is provided.

Appropriation:    An unspecified amount is made to the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and an unspecified amount is made to the Employment Security Department.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 27, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Jesse Wineberry, Prime Sponsor; and Elaine Rose, City of Seattle.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Young people need encouragement to begin thinking about careers sooner.  Fostering career skills development would assist students in evaluating the relationship between their schooling and their career goals.  The bill would promote partnerships between the schools, employment and training agencies, and the public and private sector to assist at-risk youth.  The long term problems that could be addressed include school dropout rates and youth crime.  The state must begin taking serious steps to prepare the skilled labor force that will be required in the near future.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.