FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5996

                                  C 492 L 87

BYSenators McDermott, Johnson, Fleming, Bailey, Gaspard and Wojahn

Establishing the Washington vocational technology center.

Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Ways & Means

House Committe on Higher Education

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Last year the Seattle Opportunities Industrialization Center (SOIC), a community-based vocational training center, filed for protection from creditors under federal bankruptcy laws.  The major asset of SOIC is a seven-story building in Seattle's Central Area which was designed for vocational and technical skills training.

The state's vocational education system consists of the secondary schools, which provide on-campus programs or operate skills centers or vocational-technical institutes in some districts, and the community colleges, which primarily provide adult vocational instruction.  Businesses involved in technological industries have expressed interest in the development and management of a vocational technology center in Seattle.

SUMMARY:

The Governor is authorized to form a public nonprofit corporation to establish a vocational technical center in Seattle.  The Governor appoints a board of fifteen directors for staggered six-year terms.  Nine members represent the business community.  Three members represent the Sixth Community College District and three members represent the Seattle School District.

The corporation may acquire and transfer real and personal property by lease, purchase or sale.  The corporation may receive gifts of property and construct vocational technical facilities, if funds are appropriated.  The center shall be named the Washington Institute of Applied Technology.  The corporation will maintain, operate, promote, and manage the vocational technology center.  The corporation is exempt from public personnel laws to allow flexibility in its personnel policies.

The board of directors has full authority and responsibility for management, policy decisions, curriculum development, and resource allocation involving the center.  The board may employ a director for the center who serves at its pleasure.  Cooperation with the community college district and the Seattle School District is required regarding operating functions and administrative services.  An agreement on the governance and operation of the center is to be negotiated by the three entities within 45 days after the effective date.

Citizen members of the board of directors may be compensated up to $100 for each day a director attends an official meeting or performs other official tasks.  Directors will also be reimbursed for travel expenses.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    28    20

      House 59  37 (House amended)

      Senate            (Senate refused to concur)

      House             (House refused to recede)

      Senate            (Senate refused to concur)

      House 50  47 (House receded)

EFFECTIVE:May 19, 1987