BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to safeguarding summer youth employment and training programs; adding new sections to chapter 50.72 RCW; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The Washington state legislature recognizes the importance of summer employment and training programs in providing disadvantaged youth age fourteen through twenty-one years with opportunities to develop a work ethic, attain basic skills that encourage school completion, attain economic self-sufficiency for older youth, and put their talents and enthusiasm to constructive uses. In addition, successful summer youth employment and training programs play a key role in supporting strong families and promoting young individuals to invest in their communities.

It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that effective summer youth employment and training programs are maintained and that recent reductions in federal funds do not prevent disadvantaged youth from being productive members of society.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The employment security department is authorized to administer the provision of summer employment and training services to disadvantaged youth fourteen through twenty-one years of age. Such services may include any of the following:

(1) Subsidized work experience;

(2) Basic remedial education directed at attainment of high school diploma or GED;

(3) Preparation for work;

(4) Recruitment outreach and enrollment activities;

(5) Job skills and academic assessment;

(6) Job development, referral, and placement;

(7) Counseling and support services necessary to enable youth to participate in programs; and

(8) Case management.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The employment security department is authorized to:

(1) Contract to deliver program services;

(2) Allocate funds to service providers;

(3) Carry out the duties specified in sections 2 through 5 of this act; and

(4) Establish administrative rules in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. By promoting programs administered under this chapter that, to the greatest extent possible, adhere to the following guidelines, the employment security department shall:

(1) Coordinate with the Washington state work force training and education coordinating board in program development and implementation;

(2) Adhere to the state's comprehensive plan for work force training;

(3) Consult on an ongoing basis with private industry councils, local government, labor, education, and community leaders to ensure a high level of public/private partnerships;

(4) Promote program activities that demonstrate a record of success;

(5) Develop program goals and indicators that are consistent with those adopted by the work force training and education coordinating board;

(6) Address unmet community needs;

(7) Support the state's development of a school-to-work transition system; and

(8) Maintain a low administrative overhead, with a target of ten percent of program funds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The programs and services administered under this chapter must be evaluated to determine their impact and effectiveness in achieving the program indicators established pursuant to section 4(5) of this act. The department shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature on an annual basis.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of . . . dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to the employment security department for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Sections 2 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 50.72 RCW.