SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 5996

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

Establishing the Washington vocational technology center.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 3, 1987; March 4, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and refer to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bender, Smitherman, Warnke.

Minority Report:  Do not pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Benitz, Craswell, Patterson, Saling.

Senate Staff:Don Bennett (786-7424)

                  March 6, 1987

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 6, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Education.

      Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Gaspard, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Fleming, Kreidler, Owen, Rinehart, Talmadge, Vognild, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Mike Williams (786-7715)

                  April 20, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 20, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Currently there is no vocational-technical institute in Seattle to train students in the new technologies which comprise a growing portion of the state's economy. 

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 a law which prohibits a public officer or employee from obtaining certain surety bonds or insurance with respect to a public building or construction contract.  The corporation is also 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.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: EDUCATION:  Senator McDermott; Dr. John Terrey, Director, State Board for Community College Education

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS: No one

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The Washington Institute of Applied Technology is established in Seattle to be operated under the laws and rules governing the state's community colleges.  The institute is not exempt from state civil service and personnel law.

The Governor is not authorized to form a public nonprofit corporation or appoint the institute's directors.  The Board of Trustees of the sixth community college district will appoint the board of directors and approve the operating and governance plan.  The directors serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for travel expenses.

Recommendations for necessary implementing legislation will be submitted to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature by December 1, 1987.  Facilities for the institute may be acquired by the sixth community college board of trustees if funds are available.