READ FIRST TIME 02/20/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to creating associate degree pathways for apprentices; adding a new section to chapter 49.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.50 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) Apprenticeships are very rigorous and highly structured programs with specific academic and work training requirements;
     (2) There is a misperception that apprenticeships are only for noncollege bound students; and
     (3) The state should expand opportunities for individuals to progress from an apprenticeship to college by creating pathways that build on the apprenticeship experience and permit apprentices to earn an associate degree.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 49.04 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An apprenticeship committee may recommend to its community or technical college partner or partners that an associate degree pathway be developed for the committee's program.
     (2) In consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges, the apprenticeship committee and the college or colleges involved with the program shall consider the extent apprentices in the program are likely to pursue an associate degree and the extent a pathway could reduce redundancy of course requirements between the apprenticeship and a degree.
     (3) If the apprenticeship committee and the college or colleges involved with the program determine that a pathway would be beneficial for apprentices and assist them in obtaining an associate degree, the apprenticeship committee may request that a pathway be established as provided in section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) At the request of an apprenticeship committee pursuant to section 2 of this act, the community or technical college or colleges providing apprentice-related and supplemental instruction for an apprenticeship program shall develop an associate degree pathway for the apprentices in that program, if the necessary resources are available.
     (2) In developing a degree program, the community or technical college or colleges shall ensure, to the extent possible, that related and supplemental instruction is credited toward the associate degree and that related and supplemental instruction and other degree requirements are not redundant.
     (3) If multiple community or technical colleges provide related and supplemental instruction for a single apprenticeship committee, the colleges shall work together to the maximum extent possible to create consistent requirements for the pathway.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The state board for community and technical colleges shall convene a work group to examine current laws, administrative rules, and practices regarding related and supplemental instruction for apprentices that is provided by community and technical colleges.
     (2) The objectives of the work group shall be to improve coordination of related and supplemental instruction by apprenticeship committees and community and technical colleges and remove or reduce barriers for apprentices to earn associate degrees. The work group shall develop common standards for when it is appropriate to make related and supplemental instruction courses graded rather than ungraded courses and clarify the standards for tuition waivers for related and supplemental instruction courses.
     (3) The work group shall include, but not be limited to, representatives from the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, the state apprenticeship council, the department of labor and industries, local apprenticeship committees, and community and technical colleges.
     (4) The work group shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature, including recommendations for legislative action if necessary, by December 15, 2003.