SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 2348

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Rector, Schoon, Cantwell, Prince, Doty, Pruitt, Rayburn, R. Meyers, Dorn, Jones, Wineberry, Kremen, Todd, Winsley, Walker, Wang, Cooper, Brough, H. Myers, Rasmussen and Phillips; by request of Governor Gardner)

Establishing an employment training program.

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 20, 1990; February 23, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; McDonald, McMullen, Murray, Williams.

Senate Staff:Jack Brummel (786-7428)

                  February 23, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & LABOR, FEBRUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Legislature has reviewed a number of proposals in the last several years which would address the expected mismatch between the worker's skill level necessary for maintaining a competitive economy and the existing skills of the state's workforce.  While there is agreement that the state's adult training system may not currently be meeting the training needs of businesses and workers, there is little evaluative data on the effectiveness and the efficiency of private and public training programs in the state.

SUMMARY:

The advisory council on investment in human capital is created.  The council is to provide advice on (1) a study of the state's training needs and training delivery system, and (2) four new training programs. 

The Office of Financial Management is to conduct a study which (1) assesses the employment competency of the workforce, the skills needed by businesses, the gaps between the capabilities of the workforce and the skills needed by businesses, the demographics of the population needing training between now and the year 2010, and the current training appraisal systems of the state; and (2) inventories and analyzes the current training system, alternative programs, and ways to improve training to enable minorities and women to enter occupations in which they are under-represented.  In addition, recommendations on changes in the training system are to be made.

The Office of Financial Management is to oversee four pilot training programs.  The pilot programs are: (1) the provision of new approaches to the training needs of businesses and the work-force by community colleges, (2) the provision of training and access to related services for dislocated workers of rural firms, including those in the timber and wood products industries, (3) the integration of training programs with programs for substance abuse prevention or treatment for youth, and (4) the integration of adult education instruction within vocational technical institutes.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Appointments by Legislature Required:     The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two of the nonvoting members, one from each caucus of the House of Representatives; and the President of the Senate shall appoint two of the nonvoting members, one from each caucus of the Senate.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

The advisory council on investment in human capital is created.  The council is to provide advice on (1) a study of the state's training needs and training delivery system, and (2) two new training programs.  The Office of Financial Management is to conduct a study which (1) assesses the employment competency of the workforce, the skills needed by businesses, the gaps between the capabilities of the workforce and the skills needed by businesses, the demographics of the population needing training between now and the year 2010, the job readiness of K-12 graduates, and the current training appraisal systems of the state; and (2) inventories and analyzes the current training system and alternatives.  In addition, recommendations on reducing illiteracy, governance issues of vocational education programs, and changes in the training system are to be made.

The Office of Financial Management is to oversee two pilot training programs.  The programs are:

      (1)the provision of new programs responding to the needs of businesses in the workforce by community colleges;

      (2)the integration of adult education instruction with vocational-technical institute programs by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is to establish a grant award program for not more than three demonstration vocational cooperative projects.  The grants may be continued for up to five years.

There is a July 1, 1991 expiration date.

Senate Committee - Testified: Bryan Wilson, Governor's office; Tim Strege, Council of Vocational Technical Institutes; Clif Finch, AWB; Jan Gee, Washington Retail Association; Robert Dilger, Washington State Building Trades