SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SCR 8403

                    As of February 4, 1997

Brief Description:  Approving the recommendations of the 1996 update of the Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board's comprehensive plan.

Sponsors:  Senators Schow, Wood, Bauer, Prince, Kohl, Heavey, Horn and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce & Labor:  2/6/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786-7428)

Background:  In 1991, the Legislature created the Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board and charged it with making the state's workforce education and training system better coordinated, more efficient, more responsive to the needs of business and workers, and more accountable for its performance.  The coordinating board's authorizing statute directs it to develop and maintain a comprehensive plan for workforce training; require a minimum of core data and establish minimum standards for program evaluation by the operating agencies of the state training system; and perform outcome-based, net-impact, and cost-benefit evaluations of the system as a whole.

The board's first comprehensive plan was released in 1994.  The 1995 Legislature enacted legislation requiring the board to update the comprehensive plan every two years and submit it to the Legislature for approval. The board is also to report annually to the Legislature regarding progress in implementing the comprehensive plan.

Summary of Bill:  The Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board is commended and thanked for producing the updated comprehensive plan AHigh Skills, High Wages.@  The Legislature approves the following action steps the board has set as its most important priorities:

CImplementation of continuous improvement efforts by all workforce training and education programs.

CIncreased capacity of the workforce training and education system.

CContinued implementation of school-to-work transition efforts to improve movement of students to postsecondary training and to employment.

CIntegration of all elements of the workforce training and education system.

CIncreased public awareness of the importance of workforce training and education issues and initiatives.

CSuccessful welfare reform through integration of training programs with work experience.

CStrengthened connection between economic development and workforce training and education.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.