HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6379

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

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

Brief Description:  Expanding the definition of "training system" for purposes of work force training and education.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Bauer, Wood and Deccio).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  2/16/96, 2/20/96 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Carlson, Chairman; Mulliken, Vice Chairman; Jacobsen, Ranking Minority Member; Mason, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Benton; Blanton; Delvin; Goldsmith; Mastin; Scheuerman and Sheahan.

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786-7120).

Background:  The Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB) was created by the Legislature in 1991.  The board's purpose is to provide planning, monitoring, and policy analysis and advice to the Governor and Legislature on the state's training system.  The board will carry out its purpose in cooperation with the agencies that comprise the state's training system and the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The state's training system is defined to include (1) vocational programs and courses offered by the secondary schools, community colleges, and technical colleges; (2) programs and courses funded by the Job Training Partnership Act, federal Vocational Act, and federal Adult Education Act; (3) adult basic education programs and courses; (4) publicly funded courses and programs for adult literacy; (5) apprenticeships; and (6) programs and courses offered by nonprofit organizations that are representative of communities or significant segments of communities and provide job training or adult literacy services.

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.  The board is directed to carry out these and other duties in cooperation with the operating agencies of the state training system.

Summary of Amended Bill:   In the statute establishing the Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board, the statutory definition of the state's training system is revised.  Employer-sponsored training and programs and courses offered by private career schools and colleges are included in that definition.  The purpose of the board is revised.  The board will cooperate with the state training system rather than cooperating with the agencies that comprise the training system.  As the board carries out its responsibilities, it will cooperate with private career schools and colleges as well as the operating agencies of the training system.  Finally, the board will assist in the coordination of the components of the training system as well as the operating agencies of the system.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Employer-sponsored training is added to types of training that comprise the state's training system.  The purpose of the board is to cooperate with the entire training system.  The board will cooperate with private career schools and colleges and will assist in the coordination of the components of the training system.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The changes proposed in this legislation will assist the board and private career schools and colleges to work more closely together.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Linda Broderick, Washington Federation of Private Career Schools and Colleges (pro); and Bryan Wilson, Workforce Training Board (pro).