WHEREAS, Chapter 238, Laws of 1991, created the work force training and education coordinating board to provide planning, coordination, evaluation, monitoring, and policy analysis for the state training system as a whole, and advice to the governor and legislature concerning the state training system, in cooperation with the agencies that comprise the state training system, and the higher education coordinating board; and

WHEREAS, Section 2, Chapter 130, Laws of 1995, requires the board to update the state comprehensive plan for work force training and education every two years and requires the legislature, following public hearings, to approve or make changes to the updates; and

WHEREAS, The work force training and education coordinating board has identified work force development goals, performance indicators, standards, and evaluation measures in its work force plan; and

WHEREAS, Despite these efforts, Washington's work force development programs are unduly fragmented, spending eight hundred sixty-six million dollars in fiscal year 1996 through multiple agencies and various programs; and

WHEREAS, The legislature finds that the work force training and education coordinating board must intensify its efforts to identify program funding, identify options for program consolidation and coordinate related programs to redirect resources toward programs that most effectively and efficiently meet the needs of those businesses that produce family wage jobs for workers in our state; and

WHEREAS, It is critical that in order to successfully implement the comprehensive plan, it must include specific recommendations from the work force training and education coordinating board on the identification, modification, consolidation, initiation, or elimination of work force training and education programs in the state; and

WHEREAS, The legislature finds that the absence of these recommendations prohibits an accurate assessment of the effectiveness of the work force training system and inhibits evaluation of the potential for success of the comprehensive plan; and

WHEREAS, That under the plan, the current structure of our work force training system remains fragmented and lacks coordination of financial and human resources essential to effective administration and efficiency within the system; and

WHEREAS, It is the legislature's desire that the work force training and education system developed in this state operates under the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness standards, maximizing available resources and increasing client satisfaction;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, the Senate concurring, That the legislature supports the continued efforts of the work force development system partners to fulfill their commitments to the recommendations of the plan pending its adoption by the legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the members of the work force training and education coordinating board be commended for their dedication and commitment to the State of Washington in producing the 1996 update of Washington's comprehensive plan for work force training and education titled "High Skills, High Wages"; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the legislature appreciates the diligence of the board in drafting this plan, but prefers to approve it in conjunction with action taken on the following board reports and recommendations:

(1) By July 1, 1998, the work force training and education coordinating board shall prepare a comprehensive report to the legislature identifying all current work force development programs available in our state. For each program identified in the report, the board shall, at a minimum, include the following information:

(a) The program's funding sources, whether state or federal, including a breakdown by administrative and direct service expenditures at the state, regional, and local levels. The board shall define "administration" and "direct service cost" so as to ensure that the aggregate report will be comparable among programs;

(b) An indication of whether or not matching funds are required for the receipt of funds and, if so, by whom;

(d) The current number of program participants and their geographic representation;

(e) Any program participation requirements for qualification to enter the program;

(f) A review of program rules;

(g) The type of training and other services provided to program participants;

(h) A review of program completion rates for a period of five years or the existence of the program, whichever is less, where appropriate and available; and

(i) A review of job placement rates in relation to training activities for a period of five years or the existence of the program, whichever is less, where appropriate and available.

For programs for which the information required under subsection (1)(h) and (i) is appropriate, but not available, the work force training and education board shall recommend measures for the programs to produce such information.

All current work force development programs available in our state shall participate in the preparation of this report as required by the board. If any work force development program fails to participate in the report, that fact shall be highlighted in the report.

(2) By November 1, 1998, the work force training and education coordinating board, using the information compiled under subsection (1) and the outcome, net-impact, and cost-benefit evaluations required in RCW 28C.18.090, shall provide the legislature with efficiency recommendations including modification, consolidation, or elimination of programs identified in RCW 50.16.096. At a minimum, the recommendations must include all state board for community and technical colleges-administered vocational programs; dislocated worker training programs; adult basic education programs; secondary vocational education; participating private vocational school programs; job training partnership act Titles IIA, IIB, IIC, and III; and the state job skills program.

The recommendations under this subsection must take into account any performance reports available for the programs. The recommendations must also include provisions that will streamline and coordinate program offerings and direct training resources in response to local labor market demand. The board shall also provide recommendations to improve program effectiveness measured by retention and completion rates for program participants, and job placement and retention rates of participants in relation to training activities.

(3) For purposes of the reports under subsections (1) and (2), the term "program" does not include the activities of individual institutions, such as individual community or technical colleges, common schools, service delivery areas, job service centers, or individual fields of study or course.