FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1130

C 21 L 17

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Making the customized employment training program permanent.

Sponsors: House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Haler, Pollet and Ryu; by request of State Board for Community and Technical Colleges).

House Committee on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

The Washington Customized Employment Training Program (Program) was created in 2006 to fund workforce training in a manner that reduces the up-front costs of training to new and expanding businesses.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (State Board) administers the Program. The State Board awards training allowances to eligible employers that contract with qualified community and technical colleges or private vocational schools to provide customized training to individuals. Per trainee allowances are capped depending on the size of the business. Preference is given to employers with fewer than 50 employees. The employer must make good faith efforts to hire from trainees in the Program. Colleges must make good faith efforts to use trainers preferred by employers participating in the Program.

At the completion of training, employers must repay the training allowance in phases over a period of 18 months. Repayments are deposited into the Training Finance Account that was created as part of the Program.

When originally created, the Program was set to expire in 2012. The expiration date was extended to July 1, 2017.

Summary:

The expiration date of the Washington Customized Employment Training Program is repealed.

Votes on Final Passage: