HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                     HB 2211

Brief Description:  Relating to work force training.

Sponsors:  Representatives McMorris, Clements, Boldt, and Lisk

                    Hearing:  March 3, 1997

BACKGROUND:

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board was established in 1991, in part, as a response to a need to coordinate and direct a fragmented and complex workforce training and education system.  It is a system that includes: vocational training at the high school level, vocational and literacy training at community and technical colleges, retraining for dislocated workers, training through private career schools,  apprenticeships and training for economically disadvantaged individuals.  Many state and federally funded training programs target certain groups of individuals and make it difficult to combine and redirect funds.  In establishing the board, the Legislature found there was no comprehensive and strategic plan to guide all parts of the system and make it responsive.

The WTECB is charged with a number of duties to be performed in cooperation with the agencies involved in the state's workforce training and education system.  These duties include:  developing and maintaining a comprehensive plan for workforce training; establishing minimum standards to be used by agencies in evaluating programs they implement; providing coordination among the different agencies and components of the state=s training system at the state and regional level; establishing and maintaining an inventory of state programs and related programs of the state=s training system; and identifying policies to reduce administrative and other barriers to the efficient operation and coordination of the state=s workforce and development system.

SUMMARY OF BILL:

The Legislature finds that despite the efforts directed at identifying goals, performance indicators, standards and evaluation criteria for the workforce development system, the system remains unduly fragmented.  The Legislature further finds that the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board must intensify its efforts to identify program funding, identify options for program consolidation, and identify where coordination of related programs can redirect resources to programs that most effectively meet the needs of businesses that produce family wage jobs.  The Legislature intends to direct the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to develop a matrix of current workforce training programs along with participation requirements and resources allocated to the programs from both state and federal sources.

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.