Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Community & Economic Development & Trade Committee

HB 2227

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.

Brief Description: Enacting the evergreen jobs act.

Sponsors: Representatives Probst, Orwall, Santos, Nelson, Sullivan, Liias, Williams, Carlyle, Maxwell, Conway, Morrell, White, Goodman, Jacks, Kenney and Seaquist.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires specified workforce education and training agencies to prioritize study programs that lead to green industry credentials, certificates and degrees.

  • Establishes an Evergreen Jobs Authority to manage, direct, inventory, and coordinate state efforts to promote, develop and encourage green economic jobs.

  • Authorizes the renamed "Evergreen Jobs Account" to include public or private gifts, grants or endowments, and expands its use in relation to educational purposes.

Hearing Date: 2/18/09

Staff: Meg Van Schoorl (786-7105)

Background:

2008 Green Economy Jobs Growth Initiative.

The Green Economy Jobs Growth Initiative (Green Jobs Initiative) was enacted as a part of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill (E2SHB) 2815 during the 2008 legislative session. Its goal is to increase the number of clean energy jobs in the state to 25,000 by 2020. The Green Jobs Initiative required actions by agencies including the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED), the Employment Security Department, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTB), the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), the Washington State University Small Business Development Center, the University of Washington Business and Economic Development Center, and the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). They were directed to:

A Green Industries Job Training Account (Account) was created in the State Treasury. Expenditures from the Account may be used only for competitive grants (1) to train workers for high-wage occupations in high-demand industries related to the green economy and (2) for educational purposes related to the green economy. The WTB must create and pilot green industry skill panels in order to distribute grants for training workers. The SBCTC may distribute grants for educational purposes when other public or private funds are insufficient or unavailable, including for: curriculum development; transitional jobs strategies for dislocated workers in declining industries; workforce education; and adult basic and remedial education.

In response to the directives in E2SHB 2815, during the 2008 interim the DCTED convened a Green-Economy Jobs Initiative Advisory Team with representatives from state government, education, labor, business, environmental and technology stakeholder groups. In February 2009 the DCTED provided the Legislature with a discussion draft report on their work, "Washington State's Green Economy - A Strategic Framework."

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature finds that federal and state policy proposals include new investments in green industry research and development, green energy production incentives, green energy installation and energy efficiency retrofits. The anticipated increase in demand for green energy will create job opportunities for Washington residents; however, the state and residents may fail to take full advantage of these opportunities if there is a shortage of skilled workers. The Legislature intends that the state create a highly skilled green jobs workforce through targeted allocation of existing education and training funds as well as federal appropriations. The Legislature also intends to create an Evergreen Jobs Authority to ensure that the state is a national and world leader in the green economy.

The SBCTC, the WTB, and the Apprenticeship Council must give priority to study programs that lead to a credential, a certificate, or a degree in green industry occupations. Prioritization includes but is not limited to:

The Account in the State Treasury is renamed the Evergreen Jobs Account. Funds deposited in the Account may include public or private gifts, grants, or endowments. The allowable uses of grant funds distributed on a competitive basis by the SBCTC from the Account are expanded to include coordination of outreach by higher education institutions and workforce development councils.

An Evergreen Jobs Authority (Authority) is established with responsibility for:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 16, 2009.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.