FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5300

                              C 72 L 90

BYSenate Committee on Economic Development & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Lee, Smitherman, Murray, West, Anderson, Johnson, Williams, Rasmussen and McMullen; by request of Department of Labor and Industries)

Updating references to women and minorities in apprenticeship programs statute.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In the statutes providing for joint apprenticeship programs and vocational education, there are several affirmative action provisions designed to increase the participation of "minority races."  This term is currently defined as "Blacks, Mexican-Americans or Spanish Americans, Orientals, and Indians or Filipinos."

The primary standard is that any program under Chapter 49.04 RCW include members of minority races in a ratio equal to that found in the general population.  Noncompliance could result in a withdrawal of state funds from the program or facilities unless a genuine effort to comply has been made.

Community colleges, vocational schools, and high schools must make every effort to enlist minority race representation in apprenticeship programs they conduct.

Employer and employee groups, the Apprenticeship Council and local and state apprenticeship committees (established elsewhere in the chapter) must make every effort to enlist minority race representation, with aid from the Department of Labor and Industries.

SUMMARY:

All references to "minority races" in the affirmative action provisions in the chapter on apprenticeship described above are changed to "women and racial minorities."

The primary standard under Chapter 49.04 RCW is changed to include women and minority races in a ratio not less than the percentage of the minority race and female (minority and nonminority) labor force in the program sponsor's labor market area.

The definition of "minority race" is changed to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Filipinos, and all other racial minority groups.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   40    0

     House 97  0 (House amended)

     Senate   45    0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990