SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6544

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.

As Passed Senate, February 9, 2018

Title: An act relating to establishing the future of work task force.

Brief Description: Establishing the future of work task force.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Chase, Brown, Hasegawa, Wagoner, Wellman, Takko and Conway).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Economic Development & International Trade: 1/25/18 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 2/01/18, 2/06/18 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 2/09/18, 36-11.

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

  • Establishes the Future of Work Task Force to address manufacturing job loss issues.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Chase, Chair; Takko, Vice Chair; Brown, Ranking Member; Wagoner and Wellman.

Staff: Greg Vogel (786-7413)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6544 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair; Billig, Carlyle, Conway, Darneille, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Mullet, Palumbo, Ranker and Van De Wege.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Braun, Ranking Member; Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member; Becker, Brown, Schoesler, Wagoner and Warnick.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Bailey, Pedersen and Rivers.

Staff: Daniel Masterson (786-7454)

Background: Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board). The Workforce Board is a partnership of labor, business, and government dedicated to helping Washington State residents obtain and succeed in family-wage jobs, while meeting employers' needs for skilled workers. As a state agency the Workforce Board oversees a workforce development system that includes 16 education and training programs receiving almost $1 billion annually in state and federal funds.

Summary of First Substitute Bill: The Future of Work Task Force (Task Force) is established to:

The Task Force may meet as appropriate, up to four times a year.

Subject to appropriations, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board must perform the following duties under direction of the Task Force:

The act is null and void if funding is not provided by June 30, 2018.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: Yes.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Economic Development & International Trade): PRO: This bill is part of a broader look at the workforce and what we do with the workforce as society and the economy changes—the changes in how people go to work and what they do. The bill does have the potential for duplication of efforts. The state has a lot of plans and metrics related to workforce development. While not exactly tackling the topics in this legislation, the programs does add pieces of the topic to the conversation. There is a need to focus on actionable data and scalable examples of promising practices.

OTHER: The Workforce Board will address this topic further in today's work session, but the bill addresses the issues that the state, and the rest of the country, is facing in terms of transformation in industries and the work sector, relating to changing technologies and automation.

Persons Testifying (Economic Development & International Trade): PRO: Senator Maralyn Chase, Prime Sponsor; Katherine Mahoney, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. OTHER: Eleni Papadakis, Workforce Board.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Economic Development & International Trade): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Ways & Means): The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. None.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.