HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2376

                      As Passed House:

                      February 10, 1998

Title:  An act relating to the Washington award for vocational excellence.

Brief Description:  Changing Washington award for vocational excellence provisions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Carlson, Kenney, Radcliff, Mason, Talcott and Conway.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  1/22/98, 1/29/98 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/10/98, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Carlson, Chairman; Radcliff, Vice Chairman; Mason, Ranking Minority Member; Kenney, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Butler; Dunn; O'Brien and Sheahan.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

Background:  In 1984, the Legislature created the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) program.  Through the award program, up to three students in each legislative district are annually honored for their outstanding performances in occupational training programs.  The students are selected for their achievements, leadership abilities, and community contributions.  At least two of the three students selected in each legislative district are expected to be graduating high school students.  The program is administered by the Workforce Training and Education Coordination Board (WTECB).  Currently, statutes do not provide a time line in which recipients must use the award.

Summary of Bill:  Recipients of awards must completely use the award within six years of receiving the award.  Recipients who receive awards before the 1994-95 academic year must completely use  the award before September 2001.  Recipients of awards for 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97 must use their awards before September 2004.  Students who do not use their awards within the required time lines forfeit their awards.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  Administratively the program is difficult.  It is difficult to determine a recipient's eligibility because there is no ending date for use of the award.  This makes it very difficult to provide budget projections.  This places a six-year limit on the use of awards, rarely do students use awards after six years.  This is a reasonable time frame to require use of the award.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Wes Pruitt, Washington Training and Education Coordinating Board; and Kathleen Lott, Washington Vocational Association.