HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2289

BYRepresentatives Sayan, R. King, Bowman, Haugen, Morris, Brumsickle, Brooks, Spanel, Basich, Smith, Jacobsen, Wineberry, Anderson, Wang, Vekich, Dellwo and P. King; by request of  Department of Fisheries

Increasing the reimbursements for Washington conservation corps members.

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Cantwell, Chair; Wineberry, Vice Chair; Doty, Ranking Republican Member, G. Fisher, Kirby, Kremen, Moyer, Raiter, Rasmussen, Rector, Schoon, Tate and Youngsman.

House Staff:Paul Leistner (786-7663)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Conservation Corps was established in 1983 to provide a meaningful work experience to young people and to further the values of resource conservation and environmental appreciation.  The program involves the following agencies: Natural Resources, Wildlife, Fisheries, Parks and Recreation, Ecology, Agriculture, and Employment Security.

Corps enrollees must be between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of enrollment.  They may participate for six months with the possibility of an extension of six months.  Though they are not considered state employees, they are reimbursed at the rate of the federal minimum wage.  No reference is made to the participation of people with developmental disabilities in the corps.

Administrative and support costs for this program shall not exceed 30 percent of the total funds available for this program for a biennium or in the alternative, result in the average cost per enrollee exceeding $7,000.

The federal minimum wage is $3.35 per hour as it was when the program was established.  As of April 1, 1990, the federal minimum wage will increase to $3.85 per hour and on April 1, 1991, will increase again to $4.25 per hour.  The state minimum wage reached $4.25 per hour on January 1, 1990.

SUMMARY:

The statutory limit of $7,000 average cost per enrollee in the Washington Conservation Corps is replaced by a new spending limit arrived at by a formula.  The new limit is set by multiplying the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher, by 2,080.

State agencies that are participating in the Washington Conservation Corps program are urged to consider people with developmental disabilities for enrollment in the program.  These agencies are allowed to apply for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Labor, which would authorize payment below minimum wage for enrollees with developmental disabilities who have low productivity.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 18, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Loren Stern, Washington Department of Fisheries and Sally Hicks, Washington Department of Fisheries.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The formula in the bill will allow the statutory limit on average cost per enrollee in the Washington Conservation Corps to adjust to changes in the state or federal minimum wage rate, which ever was higher, while preserving the spirit of the original statute which sets an upper limit on expenditure per enrollee.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.