SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5891

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 of February 15, 2019

Title: An act relating to establishing the Washington adult diploma and workforce training program.

Brief Description: Establishing the Washington adult diploma and workforce training program.

Sponsors: Senators Salomon, Holy, Palumbo, Rivers, Liias, Kuderer and Nguyen.

Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/14/19.

Brief Summary of Bill

Establishes the Washington Adult Diploma and Workforce Training Program to assist adults obtain a high school diploma and develop career and technical skills.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)

Background: The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) is governed by a nine-member, governor-appointed board responsible for administering and providing leadership and coordination for Washington State's 34 public community and technical college (CTC) districts. Each public CTC must maintain an open-door policy, stating admission cannot be denied because of the location of a student's residence or because of the student's educational background or ability.

Besides offering classes leading to degrees and other credentials, CTCs provide and administer other programs including occupational skills training for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, worker retraining programs for unemployed workers, postsecondary professional technical education for certain adults and high school graduates, basic education for adults, and high school diploma programs.

Summary of Bill: SBCTC must establish the Washington Adult Diploma and Workforce Training Program to assist adults obtain a high school diploma, increase their employability, and develop career and technical skills.

SBCTC shall select eligible providers on an annual basis for the approved provider list based on certain criteria including experience with providing dropout recovery services and ability to provide preparation for industry-recognized credentials, among others. Particular performance milestones for each enrolled adult student will result in compensation for approved eligible providers. Providers must invoice and itemize their performance milestones to the SBCTC monthly. Compensation for milestones include:

$150 for a student completion of each half credit;
$250 for attaining an industry-recognized credential requiring up to 50 hours of training;
$500 for attaining an industry-recognized credential requiring between 51 and 100 hours of training;
$750 for attaining an industry-recognized credential requiring more than 100 hours of training; and
$1,000 for a student attaining an accredited high school diploma.

Approved providers must submit an annual report by July 15th each year to the SBCTC on certain performance metrics. SBCTC must review the performance of each approved provider to ensure the program offered by them is achieving a minimum 50 percent graduation rate and a cost per graduate of $7,000 or less. Cost per graduate is determined by the total program funding reimbursed to an approved provider divided by the total graduates for a cohort year.

An approved provider who does not meet performance standards will be placed on probationary status for one year. If an approved provider fails to meet performance standards for two consecutive years, they will be removed from the eligible provider list.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 11, 2019.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Michigan and Ohio have established programs like this. There are many adults who do not qualify for unfilled jobs just because they do not have a high school diploma. This is a vulnerable and underserved population, and similar programs have worked before. This challenge takes dedicated workforce population and is results based.

OTHER: The Office of the Superintendent of Public Institution has reengagement programs that work well and there should be clarification that this is only for students over the age of twenty-one.

CON: The CTCs understand the intent. The CTCs currently provide similar programs that are free to students. The reporting requirements in this bill that are duplicative and burdensome. Tracking participants and outcomes will be difficult. This will be expensive for the CTCs to facilitate and this bill does not provide funding to support this program at the CTCs.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Jeff Gombosky, Graduation Alliance; Greg Harp, Graduation Alliance. CON: Troy Goracke, SBCTC. OTHER: Katherine Mahoney, The Office of the Superintendent of Public Institution.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.