SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6169

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.

Title: An act relating to including certain residents who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent or postsecondary credential and the number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults courses at community and technical colleges in caseload forecast council forecasting.

Brief Description: Including certain residents who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent or postsecondary credential and the number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults courses at community and technical colleges in caseload forecast council forecasting.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Caseload Forecast Council (Council) to forecast the number of state residents ages 25 to 44 who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, or postsecondary credential, and the number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults' courses at community and technical colleges.

Background: The Council. The Council consists of six members, two appointed by the Governor and four appointed by the chairperson of each of the two largest political caucuses in the Senate and House of Representatives. The chair of the council shall be selected from among the four caucus appointees. The council oversees the preparation of, and approves with a vote of at least four members, caseload forecasts.

Caseload forecasts project the number of persons expected to meet entitlement requirements and services for the following:

public assistance programs;
state correctional institutions;
state institutions for juvenile offenders;
the common school system;
long-term care;
medical assistance;
foster care;
adoption support;
children eligible for and participating in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program; and
the Washington College Bound Scholarship Program.

Summary of Bill: As a courtesy, the Council must forecast the number of state residents ages 25 to 44 who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, or postsecondary credential, and the number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults' courses at community and technical colleges.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The community and technical college system fully supports this legislation as an agency request bill. There are many adults who need basic education, who lack a high school or post-secondary credential. This would provide the Legislature and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges precisely what programming is needed to meet the state's educational goals. Having an accurate number of how many adults lack these credentials would provide the information needed to maintain pathways leading to living wage employment. Through census data, we know there are over 571,000 adults with no high school credential. Knowing the precise number of these adults would enable us to expand capacity and increase student access and transition, and provide living wage job opportunities. In Pierce County, Tacoma Community College serves over 5000 adults, but census data says there are over 60,000 adults who could be served. As a dean, it my responsibility to know where the need is and allocate resources. Unfortunately, census data is the best we have to understand the needs in our communities, and it is often a couple years old. This work affects adults, and the future workforce. We have a responsibility to train and educate our own talent in this state.