SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5534
As of February 8, 2023
Title: An act relating to workforce education investment accountability and oversight board staffing changes.
Brief Description: Concerning workforce education investment accountability and oversight board staffing changes.
Sponsors: Senators Randall, Holy, Nobles and Wellman.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/08/23.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Modifies staffing of the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board (WEIAO) to the Washington Student Achievement Council.
  • Allows the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to maintain the WEIAO data dashboard.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)
Background:

The Legislature passed ESSHB 2158 in 2019, known as the Workforce Education Investment Act (WEIA). WEIA established the Workforce Education Investment Account that is funded from an increase in the business and occupation tax. As a part of WEIA, the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board (WEIAO) was established for two purposes:

  • to provide guidance and recommendations to the Legislature on which workforce education priorities should be funded from the Workforce Education Investment Account; and
  • to ensure accountability that the investments funded from the Workforce Education Investment Account are producing the intended results and effectively increasing student success and career readiness.

 
The WEIAO has 17 members, including legislators and representatives from businesses impacted by the tax, higher education, labor, and students. The WEIAO is staffed by the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) and is required to meet four times a year.
Summary of Bill:

The Student Achievement Council is tasked with staffing the WEIAO. The Workforce Board must maintain the WEIAO data dashboard on a public-facing portal.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: Since the WEIA account is focused on higher education and WSAC is the state agency charged with coordination of higher education policy, it would be appropriate for WSAC to have the staffing role moving forward. The oversight board should be recommending additional higher education investments in a more coordinated way. This is an efficient policy change ensuring the stakeholders involved in overseeing the Workforce Education Investment Act can do the work of stewarding resources, getting them to students, and ensuring that we are educating the pipeline of students to fill the workforce.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Emily Randall, Prime Sponsor; Neil Strege, Washington Roundtable.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.