BILL REQ. #:  S-1526.1 

Read first time 02/15/2005.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development.

     AN ACT Relating to a graduate job placement pilot program; adding a new section to chapter 50.12 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 50.12 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A student services office is established as a pilot program in the employment security department to coordinate job placement activities and resources for graduate and professional students at the University of Washington and Washington State University career services departments, while acting as a liaison between the employment security department WorkSource program, and the business community and graduate and professional students of the University of Washington and Washington State University. This pilot program begins July 1, 2005, and expires June 30, 2007.
     (2) The center for career services at the University of Washington and career services at Washington State University shall each hire one full-time equivalent employee to facilitate career services for graduate and professional students. The responsibilities of this employee are at the discretion of the department, except that the employee must coordinate career services resources and events between the individual department and the employment security department.
     (3) The student services office shall create an annual job placement survey for graduate and professional students at the University of Washington and Washington State University. The survey will be implemented at the end of the 2005-06 and 2006-07 academic years for each participating institution. The University of Washington and Washington State University must participate in this survey. Information from this survey will be used for internal purposes at the employment security department, the University of Washington, and Washington State University. Some information shall be made public for the benefit of students and businesses, but only to the extent and in the manner permitted by law.
     (4) The student services office advisory board is hereby created to oversee this program. This board shall consist of a representative from each department at the University of Washington and Washington State University at which a new full-time equivalent employee is employed for the purposes in this section. The student services office director shall also be a member of the board. A representative from the University of Washington and Washington State University shall each hold the chair position and responsibilities for one year. The board shall meet four times yearly, once per quarter. Each institution shall host a meeting before an institution may again host the meeting. The board may permit an institution to not host a meeting on a one-time basis with a unanimous vote of approval.
     (5) By December 1, 2006, the student services office advisory board shall report to appropriate committees of the legislature on the impact of the pilot program in this section on job placement services for graduate and professional students at the University of Washington and Washington State University.
     (6) Funds for this pilot program shall provide for two full-time equivalent employees: One full-time equivalent employee placed with the employment security department as the director of the student services office; and one full-time equivalent employee placed with the employment security department to coordinate and implement the job placement survey. Additional funding shall be provided for necessary administrative support and coordination of events and resources between the employment security department, the University of Washington, and Washington State University.
     (7) This section expires June 30, 2007.