Title: An act relating to a state comprehensive plan for workforce training and education.

Brief Description: Requiring the workforce training and education coordinating board to develop a state comprehensive plan.

Sponsors: Representatives Jarrett, Wallace, Chase, Kenney and Seaquist.

Brief History:

Higher Education: 1/30/08 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Wallace, Chair; Sells, Vice Chair; Anderson, Ranking Minority Member; Hankins, Hasegawa, Jarrett, McIntire, Roberts, Schmick and Sommers.

Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).

Background:

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB) was created in 1991 to provide planning, coordination, evaluation, monitoring, and policy analysis for the state workforce training system as a whole, and to advise the Governor and the Legislature concerning the training system. It is a tripartite partnership of business, labor, and government with a membership of 11.

The WTECB updates its comprehensive plan every two years. The Legislature is required, following public hearings, to approve or make changes to the plan updates by way of a concurrent resolution. Once so approved, the plan becomes the state's workforce training policy unless legislation is enacted to alter the policies set forth in the plan. Every year, by December 1, the WTECB reports to the appropriate legislative policy committees on progress in implementing the comprehensive plan.

In 2007 by way of a concurrent resolution (SCR 8404), the Legislature approved the WTECB's two-year comprehensive plan, "High Skills, High Wages 2006: Washington's Strategic Plan for Workforce Development." That comprehensive plan included the following strategic opportunities for the ensuing two-year period:

• increasing high school graduation rates;
• expanding the availability of career pathways that span secondary and postsecondary     education and training;
• increasing postsecondary training capacity;
• increasing financial aid and retention support for workforce education students;
• increasing Adult Basic Education Skills and English as a Second Language               instruction that is integrated with occupational skills training;
• improving coordination between workforce and economic development in key            economic clusters;
• expanding and sustaining skill panels;
• expanding customized training for current workers;
• expanding the availability of the Work Readiness Credential; and
• developing state and local agreements on service integration.

Summary of Bill:

The future time period covered by the WTECB comprehensive plan is lengthened from two years to 10 years. The WTECB must develop a state comprehensive plan for workforce training and education for a 10-year time period, with updates every four years.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Preparing a comprehensive plan every two years, as is done now, is more management than planning and can lead to burn out on planning. A change to a 10-year plan will improve the planning process and the plan. The four-year updates will allow for adjustments if they need to be made. With the new planning schedule, the WTECBs comprehensive plan will match that of the Higher Education Coordinating Board, which also has a 10-year plan.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Jarrett, prime sponsor; and Maddy Thompson, Workforce Board.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.