BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to training for high technology job opportunities; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that Washington's booming high technology industries are unable to hire enough Washington residents to meet their needs for highly skilled employees. At the same time, many Washington residents are interested in high technology fields, but access to programs in institutions of higher education that would prepare them to take well-paying positions in information technology and other high technology fields is constrained by the insufficient number of available enrollment slots at the institutions.

(2) The legislature recognizes that students, workers, institutions of higher education, high technology industries, and our state's economy as a whole depend upon improving the state's capacity to prepare more Washington residents to enter and succeed in the growing high technology sector of the economy.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The information technology enrollment grant program is created and shall be administered by the higher education coordinating board. The purpose of this grant program is to provide additional opportunities to enroll at public baccalaureate institutions in programs that lead to degrees and other recognized credentials in information technology.

(2) The board shall award grants through a competitive selection process. In order to be eligible for grants under this chapter, the grant application must demonstrate that the proposed project is supported by at least a fifty-percent matching contribution of nonstate cash or donations from nonstate sources. State funds awarded through this program may be used to pay for faculty, staff, or equipment for computer science, computer engineering, or related disciplines. The maximum grant any institution may receive under this program is one million dollars.

(3) The board shall report to the governor and the legislature annually by December 15th on the implementation of this program and shall include any recommendations the board may have for changes to the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The information technology partnership grant program is created and shall be administered by the state board for community and technical colleges. The purpose of the program is to improve opportunities to enroll in information technology and computer science programs at the community and technical colleges.

(2) The board shall award grants through a competitive selection process. Colleges, partnerships of colleges, or partnerships of colleges and K-12 school districts may apply for grants under this program. In order to be eligible for a grant under this chapter, the grant application must demonstrate that the proposed project is supported by at least a fifty-percent matching contribution of nonstate cash or donations from nonstate sources.

(3) Priority shall be given to proposed programs that prepare students to meet industry standards, achieve industry skill certificates, or to continue upper division computer science or computer engineering studies. The maximum grant that may be awarded to any applicant under this program is three hundred thousand dollars.

(4) The board shall report to the governor and the legislature annually by December 15th on the implementation of this program and shall include any recommendations the board may have for changes to the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections 1 through 3 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of one million two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the higher education coordinating board for the purposes of section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of one million two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the state board for community and technical colleges for the purposes of section 3 of this act.