HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2519

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                Trade & Economic Development

Title:  An act relating to youth job training and work force preparation.

Brief Description:  Revising the Washington youthbuilt program.

Sponsors:  Representatives Skinner, Mason, Radcliff, Veloria, Chopp, Hatfield, Dickerson, Conway, Sheldon and Cody.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Trade & Economic Development:  1/22/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Chairman; Radcliff, Vice Chairman; D. Schmidt, Vice Chairman; Sheldon, Ranking Minority Member; Veloria, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Hatfield; Hickel; Mason; Sherstad; Skinner and Valle.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:   The Washington Youthbuild program was created by the Legislature in 1994.  The Youthbuild program is designed to address the lack of educational and economic opportunities for disadvantaged youth while they work on projects that result in the expansion or improvement of residential housing units for low-income or homeless persons.  The Washington Youthbuild program is administered by the Employment Security Department (ESD) in consultation with the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

The Washington Youthbuild program provides basic educational skills training, specialized job training in the construction industry, work experience, and leadership skills for disadvantaged youth who have not completed high school.

ESD provides grants to local organizations to implement Youthbuild programs.  In order to be eligible, the local organization must be able to secure additional funding through a public and private partnership and to provide education and employment training under federal and state law.  A participant in the Youthbuild program must be (1) 16 to 24 years of age, (2) a member of a household with an income that is below 50 percent of the median income for the county, and (3) a high-school dropout.

ESD was provided a single year of funding to implement the Washington Youthbuild program.  Local Youthbuild programs were funded in Wenatchee, Yakima, Spokane, Seattle, and King County.

Recently, the Youthbuild USA organization has expressed its concern regarding the unauthorized use of the term "Youthbuild," which it has registered.

Summary of Bill:  All references to "Youthbuild" are changed to "Youthbuilt," wherever they occur.

Eligibility for participation in the Washington Youthbuilt program is expanded to include individuals who have completed high school but still have basic educational needs, despite having attained a high-school diploma or its equivalent.  The commissioner of ESD may provide waivers to allow a local program to select up to 25 percent of its participants under this provision.

The amount of youthbuilt funds that can be used for the administrative costs of the applicant is increased from 5 percent to 9 percent of the amount awarded.

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board must provide advice to ESD on youthbuilt program development and implementation.  Obsolete reporting requirements are removed.  ESD is to include reports on individual youthbuilt programs as part of its report to the Governor and Legislature.

Appropriation:  The sum of $1 million from the general fund to the Employment Security Department.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Youthbuilt has provided a lift to the participants and allows them to give something back to the community.  The job skills learned in the program have provided many participants the opportunity for a career in the construction industry.  There is a need for this program and others would benefit from it.

Testimony Against:    None.

Testified:    (Pro) Representative Skinner, prime sponsor; and Robert Thorton, Roberto Riveria, Serena Tillman, Christina Hicks, and Jamar Thompson, Youthbuilt participants.