BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to work force development programs in the employment security department; amending RCW 50.20.043; adding a new section to chapter 50.67 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 50.12 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The employment security department shall require yearly operating plans of each state or federally funded program within its budget that provides work force training and development services, including but not limited to Wagner Payser and job training partnership act programs. Each plan must be consistent with the comprehensive plan for work force training and education of the work force training and education coordinating board. Each program's plan must be submitted to the work force training and education coordinating board for review and comment prior to the implementation of the plan and with sufficient time for revision if necessary and final review by the work force training and education coordinating board prior to any federal deadline for the plan. Plans submitted under this section must be consistent with applicable federal requirements and, to avoid duplicative plans, may be submitted on a form required by federal regulations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 50.67 RCW to read as follows:

The Washington state job training coordinating council shall, consistent with federal regulations, prioritize federal job training partnership act funds to those programs that:

(1) Match individual capacity and needs; and

(2) Provide training for higher-wage jobs available in the community.

The council shall report to the work force training and education coordinating board on July 1, 1996, and January 1, 1998, on the success of its prioritization of funds. The criteria used for evaluating success shall include job placement, job retention, and wages paid in a job using the skills for which the individual was trained.

Sec. 3. RCW 50.20.043 and 1985 c 40 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

No otherwise eligible individual shall be denied benefits for any week because the individual is in training with the approval of the commissioner, nor shall such individual be denied benefits with respect to any week in which the individual is satisfactorily progressing in a training program with the approval of the commissioner by reason of the application of RCW 50.20.010(3), 50.20.015, 50.20.080, or 50.22.020(1) relating to availability for work and active search for work, or failure to apply for or refusal to accept suitable work.

An individual who the commissioner determines to be a dislocated worker as defined by RCW 50.04.075, or who fits the category of long-term unemployed as defined in RCW 50.62.020 or the department's profile of unemployed workers who are likely to exhaust their benefits, and who is satisfactorily progressing in a training program approved by the commissioner shall be considered to be in training with the approval of the commissioner.

At the time of filing for an initial determination, individuals within the category of long-term unemployed as defined in RCW 50.62.020 or who fit the department's profile of unemployed workers who are likely to exhaust their benefits shall be provided with information concerning the individual's right to receive benefits while satisfactorily progressing in training approved by the commissioner.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 50.12 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The employment security department, in operating its business assistance programs shall coordinate and integrate its efforts with the department of community, trade, and economic development, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the work force training and education coordinating board. The department shall accomplish this in a manner designed to meet the work force needs of:

(a) Those industrial sectors targeted by the department of community, trade, and economic development's targeted sector programs; and

(b) The state's most competitive firms.

(2) The employment security department, in carrying out its responsibility under subsection (1) of this section, shall:

(a) Identify gaps in the state's labor market and work with firms and the state board for community and technical colleges to train workers to fill the gaps; and

(b) Report on the department's progress on the integration and coordination called for under subsection (1) of this section to the senate labor, commerce, and trade committee and the house of representatives commerce and labor committee by September 1, 1995.