FINAL BILL REPORT

E2SSB 5809

PARTIAL VETO

C 566 L 09

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Revising unemployment compensation and workforce training provisions.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senator Hargrove).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committee on Ways & Means

Background: Training benefits are additional unemployment insurance (UI) benefits paid to workers who have lost their job and are attending an approved full-time vocational training program. The total training benefit amount is 52 times the weekly benefit amount, minus any regular UI benefits paid.

A training program must be a vocational program at an educational institution that is targeted to training for a high demand occupation, is likely to enhance the individual's marketable skills and earning power, and meets criteria for performance developed by the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB).

Summary: Funds appropriated in the 2009-2011 Operating Budget will be distributed by the Employment Security Department (ESD) to workforce development councils (WDCs) as a match to federal or local workforce investment acts funds that provide specifically for the education and training of individuals in high-demand occupations.

Eligible individuals are those who are eligible for services under the federal Workforce Investment Act adult or dislocated worker programs, or who are receiving or have exhausted entitlement to UI benefits and are enrolled in a high-demand occupation training program.

Funds used to increase capacity for training eligible individuals for high demand occupations will receive a 75 percent match, and funds used to provide financial aid for students training for high demand occupations will receive a 25 percent match. Individuals training for occupations in the aerospace, energy efficiency, forest product, or health care industries will be given priority, so long as the priority is consistent with federal law.

ESD is required to do the following:

• develop guidelines on allowable uses of incentive funds;

• encourage an increase in education and training through grants and local WDC plans;

• encourage collaboration between WDCs and other local recipients of federal funding for the purposes of increasing training and supporting those who receive training;

• require WDCs to determine and report on the number of participants who receive education and training;

• monitor and report on the use of funds and identify specific actions that can be taken to ensure that WDCs are meeting the intent of the legislation; and

• periodically bring together representatives of the WTECB, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, WDCs, business, labor, and the Legislature to review development and implementation of the legislation and related programs.

Votes on Final Passage:

Partial Veto Summary: The Governor vetoed the section directing the Governor to use 10 percent of statewide funds made available for activities under the Workforce Investment Act in Title VIII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as incentive funds.