SENATE BILL REPORT

2SHB 2156

As of February 25, 2012

Title: An act relating to the coordination and evaluation of workforce training for aerospace and materials manufacturing.

Brief Description: Regarding coordination and evaluation of workforce training for aerospace and materials manufacturing.

Sponsors: House Committee on Education Appropriations & Oversight (originally sponsored by Representatives Kenney, Sells, Haler, Seaquist, Hansen, Maxwell and Carlyle; by request of Governor Gregoire).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/12, 94-3.

Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/21/12, 2/22/12 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means:

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Tom, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Hill, Ranking Minority Member; Baumgartner, Becker, Frockt, Kastama, Kilmer and Stevens.

Staff: Katherine Taylor (786-7434)

Staff: Maria Hovde (786-7710)

Background: Aerospace's primary focus is aircraft and parts manufacturing.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) has general supervision and control over the state system of community and technical colleges. In addition to other powers and duties, SBCTC ensures that each college district offers comprehensive educational, training, and service programs to meet the needs of communities and students through academic transfer courses; occupational education courses; and adult education. Thirty-four of the colleges offer workforce training in aerospace-related fields.

The Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing serves as a liaison between the aerospace industry and the training system.

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB) provides planning, coordination, evaluation, monitoring, and policy analysis for the state training system as a whole, and advises the Governor and the Legislature concerning the state training system.

Summary of Bill: The SBCTC must facilitate coordination and alignment of aerospace training programs to the maximum extent possible. In doing so, SBCTC must collaborate with certain long-term training providers, short-term training providers, and apprenticeship program providers. Coordination and alignment must include, but is not limited to, the following:

• providing information about aerospace training programs;

• providing information about grants and partnership opportunities;

• providing coordination for professional development for faculty and other education and training providers;

• evaluating certain programs annually for completion and job placement results; and

• making budget recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on aerospace training programs.

SBCTC must also establish the Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing Pipeline Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee). This Advisory Committee consists of 11 to 15 members, with a majority of members, including the chair, representing the industry. At least two members must represent labor. Other members must be education and training providers, including directors of long-term training, short-term training, and apprenticeship programs.

The Advisory Committee must:

• provide direction for a skills gap analysis produced with WTECB using data developed through the Education Data Center, and consistent with the joint assessment of higher education and training credentials required to match employer demand;

• establish goals for students served, program completion rates, and employment rates;

• coordinate and disseminate industry advice for training programs; and

• recommend training programs for review by WTECB in coordination with the SBCTC.

WTECB, with SBCTC, must evaluate training programs recommended for review by September 1, 2012, and every year thereafter. These evaluations must include outcome results for employers and persons receiving training. WETCB must conduct and complete analyses of the training system, including net impacts, cost-benefit analyses, and outcome results by September 1, 2016, and every four years thereafter.

These requirements are subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for these specific purposes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Higher Education & Workforce Development): PRO: Washington is competitive in aerospace, but we are not as good as we could be. We have world class aerospace workers. We have to continue to invest in this industry. There is a lot of innovation and growth in this industry. SBCTC and WTECB play an important role and are the hubs for mobilizing resources. SBCTC and WTECB understand the industry. If we don't explicitly call these duties out in statute, agencies won't do them because of tough economic times. If funds are not provided, then these agencies do not have to do these duties. We need a new type of aerospace worker.

Persons Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development): PRO: Leslie Goldstein, Executive Policy Office; Roger Weed, Department of Commerce.