HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2402

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to the work force training and education coordinating board.

Brief Description:  Adding a representative of private career schools to the work force training and education coordinating board.

Sponsors:  Representatives Carlson, Jacobsen, D. Schmidt, Mastin, Mulliken, Benton and Silver.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  1/25/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Carlson, Chairman; Mulliken, Vice Chairman; Jacobsen, Ranking Minority Member; Mason, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Benton; Blanton; Delvin; Goldsmith; Mastin and Sheahan.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Scheuerman.

Staff:  Suzi Morrissey (786-7120).

Background:  The Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB) was created by the Legislature in 1991.  The board consists of nine voting members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate.  Three members represent business and three represent labor.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction, the executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and the commissioner of the Employment Security Department are the remaining voting members of the board.  The chair of the board is a nonvoting member appointed by the Governor.  The chair, who serves at the pleasure of the Governor, must be confirmed by the Senate.  The chair appoints a nonvoting member who represents the training needs of racial and ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities.

Among its other duties, the board is responsible for the licensing and oversight of private career schools and colleges.  The board is also responsible for certifying the eligibility of students in private career schools to participate in training programs funded through HB 1988.

Summary of Bill:  The Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board is expanded to include one additional voting member.  That member will represent private career schools.  The new member will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.  In selecting the new member, the Governor will consult state-wide organizations representing private career schools.  The member will serve a four-year term.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Private career schools and colleges educate about one-fourth of the work force students enrolled in institutions of postsecondary education in Washington.  Despite the significant role of the schools, the board virtually ignored these private educational providers in its master plan.  The schools are not included on most staff- level advisory groups making recommendations to the board on a variety of training issues.  The board represents some training interests, but needs to be more inclusive.  The need to reflect the interests of communities, local governments, career schools, economic development, and other interests will become even more acute as federal vocational restructuring plans are adopted.

Testimony Against:  None.  However, the Legislature was urged to proceed cautiously in considering any changes to board membership.

Testified:  Ellen O'Brien Saunders, Work Force Training and Coordinating Board (urge caution); Gena Wikstrom, Washington Federation of Private Career Schools and Colleges (pro); Vernon Stoner, Commissioner, Employment Security Department (pro); Leslie Pritchard, Seattle Art Institute (pro); Rob Talloch, Business Computer Training Institute (pro); and Jeff Johnson (pro).