HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1520

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to skill centers.

Brief Description:  Expanding the use of skill centers.

Sponsors:  Representatives Holm, Brumsickle, Wolfe, Chappell, Sheldon, Romero, Dorn, Basich, Kessler, Jones, Zellinsky, Pruitt, Brough, Cothern, Riley, King, R. Meyers, Rayburn and Quall; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 18, 1993, DPS;

Appropriations, March 3, 1993, DPS(ED).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens; and Vance.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  Eight secondary vocational skill centers have been established to provide vocational training for high school students.  The skill centers are used primarily during the morning and early afternoon, and generally are idle during the late afternoon and evening.  At the same time, community colleges have more individuals applying for admission than they can accommodate.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Community and technical college students served at skill centers as a result of cooperative agreements may be charged other than the tuition and fees normally charged community and technical college students. In addition, these students would not be included in the colleges' enrollment lid calculations.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) shall administer, subject to funding, two skill center programs designed to increase skill center course offerings in the late afternoon and evening.  The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board is encouraged to provide funding for these pilot projects.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute removes provisions from the original bill that would have prohibited an adult being displaced once the adult is enrolled, and removes detailed language regarding fees, credits, and financial transactions.

The substitute adds a provision to have OSPI conduct two skill center pilot programs, subject to funding.  The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board is encouraged to provide funding.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 1, 1993.

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

Testimony For:  There is considerable demand by students and adults to use the skill centers in the late afternoon and evening.  However, to make it possible economically requires that there be a small base of funded students.  The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board will likely have funds available that could be used to help fund this base of students, which would allow increasing service to additional students.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Jim Taylor, New Market Skills Center (pro); Tom Lopp, Superintendent of Public Instruction (pro); David Habura, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (supports concept); and Linda Byrnes, state Board of Education (pro).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Education be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Linville; Morton; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Sommers; Stevens; Talcott; Wineberry; and Wolfe.

Staff:  Jack Daray (786-7178).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Education:  No new changes were recommended.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.