SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 6411

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

Establishing an employment training program.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 22, 1990; February 2, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6411 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass as amended.

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

Senate Staff:Jack Brummel (786-7428)

                  March 1, 1990

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 12, 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) 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.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

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.

Senate Committee - Testified: PRO:  Dale Boose, Boeing and State Board for Vocational Education; Don Brunell, AWB; Earl Hale, SBCCE; Tim Strege, Council of VTIs; Mike Ryherd, Teamsters; Gil Carbone, WA Coalition for Adult Literacy; Tim Kennedy; SBIC; Jan Carlson, SPI; Rick Slunaker, Association of General Contractors; Gary Smith, IBA

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The four agencies on the advisory council are appointed as voting members and a nonvoting representative of the Council of Vocational-Technical Institutes is added to the advisory council.

Added to the job training study are an assessment of child care needs of trainees; an analysis of programs to enable women and minorities to enter occupations in which they are underrepresented; and recommendations on VTI governance and accountability at the state level for the Washington Institute of Applied Technology.

Two pilot programs are added for the Employment Security Department to administer.  The department is to: 1) provide training for dislocated workers from small timber and rural firms and 2) integrate training services with programs for substance abuse prevention and/or treatment for youth.