Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 2673

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Addressing transportation workforce development.

Sponsors: Representatives Clibborn, Hunt, Liias, Kenney, Lytton, Green, Probst, Goodman, Dickerson, Ryu, Seaquist, Darneille, Cody, Carlyle, Sullivan, Kirby, Ormsby, Ladenburg, Moscoso, Springer, Hasegawa, Maxwell, Wylie, Tharinger and Pollet.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires the Department of Transportation (Department) to coordinate with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (Council) in providing services to certain individuals interested in entering the highway construction workforce.

  • Requires the Department, in coordination with the Council, to report to the Legislature on these activities.

Hearing Date: 1/31/12

Staff: Alison Hellberg (786-7152).

Background:

On-the-Job Training Programs.

The Federal Highway Administration On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program is established in federal law. It requires that state transportation agencies receiving certain federal funds establish apprenticeship and training programs aimed at increasing the number of women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals in journey-level highway construction positions. The stated goal is to ensure a competent workforce to meet highway construction hiring needs and to address the historical under-representation of these groups in highway construction skilled crafts.

The OJT/Supportive Services (OJT/SS) Program was created in federal regulation to supplement the OJT Program by providing services to highway construction contractors and assistance to highway construction apprentices and trainees. Under federal law, the federal Secretary of Transportation may fund OJT/SS in an amount not to exceed $10 million annually. These funds are distributed through a competitive grant process. State transportation agencies may also use up to one-half of 1 percent of funds apportioned to the state under the federal Surface Transportation Program and the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program for OJT/SS. The OJT/SS may fund recruitment, skills training, job placement, child care, outreach, transportation to work sites, post-graduation follow-up, and job-site mentoring.

In Washington, the OJT/SS Unit is within the Office of Equal Opportunity at the state Department of Transportation (Department). The OJT/SS Unit's stated goal is to provide support services to increase the number of minorities and women participating in the federal-aid highway construction industry.

Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.

The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (Council) is a division within the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). The Council and the L&I establish apprenticeship program standards, approve apprenticeship training programs, and otherwise govern apprenticeship programs.

Summary of Bill:

The Department must expend federal funds received under the federal OJT Program to increase diversity in the highway construction workforce and prepare individuals interested in entering the highway construction workforce. The Department must coordinate with the Council to provide any portion of the following services:

The Department may, in coordination with the Council, expend moneys from other sources to provide these activities.

The Department, in coordination with the Council, must submit a report to the transportation committees of the Legislature by December 1 of each year, beginning in 2012. The report must contain:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 25, 2012.

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