FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6411

                              C 272 L 90

BYSenators Lee, Smitherman, Warnke, Bender and Rasmussen; by request of Governor

Establishing an employment training program.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Legislature has reviewed a number of proposals in the last several years which would address the expected mismatch between the workers' 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, the job readiness of K-12 graduates with voc-ed training, 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 four 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 provision of training for dislocated workers from small timber and rural firms by the Employment Security Department;

     (3)the integration of training services with programs for substance abuse prevention and/or treatment for youth; and

     (4)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.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   31   15

     House 97  0 (House amended)

     Senate          (Senate refused to concur)

Free Conference Committee

     House 95  0

     Senate   38    9

EFFECTIVE:March 29, 1990