Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Labor & Workforce Development Committee |
HB 2156
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Regarding coordination and evaluation of workforce training for aerospace and materials manufacturing.
Sponsors: Representatives Kenney, Sells, Haler, Seaquist, Hansen, Maxwell and Carlyle; by request of Governor Gregoire.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/24/12
Staff: Jill Reinmuth (786-7134).
Background:
A "center of excellence" is a community or technical college designated by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (State Board) as a statewide leader in industry-specific workforce education and training. There are currently ten centers of excellence, including the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing at Everett Community College.
The State Board designates centers of excellence and funds new and existing centers of excellence on a competitive basis. In making such designations, the State Board consults with business, industry, labor, certain state agencies, and educational institutions. The State Board gives priority to applicants with established programs serving a targeted industry cluster within the region.
The centers of excellence serve as statewide liaisons to business, industry, labor and the state’s educational systems for the purpose of creating a highly skilled and readily available workforce that is critical to the success of the industries driving the state’s economy and supporting Washington families. Their role is to employ strategies that, among other outcomes, build a diverse workforce for strategic industries. These strategies include sharing curriculum and instructional resources, delivering collaborative certificate and degree programs, and holding statewide summits on industry trends and educational best practices.
Summary of Bill:
The Legislature expresses findings about the importance of having a skilled workforce to grow Washington's aerospace industry, improving coordination of training programs, and increasing accountability through evaluations of training programs.
The Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing (Center) is required to:
Serve as a repository of information about aerospace training programs;
Develop and maintain data about the demand for training and job openings;
Provide information about grants and partnerships;
Provide coordination for professional development for training providers; and
Coordinate and facilitate methods for training programs to obtain industry certification and meet industry standards.
The Center is also required to create the Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing Pipeline Advisory Committee. This advisory committee, which consists of industry representatives and training providers, is required to:
Provide direction for a skills gap analysis by the Center and the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board);
Establish goals for program completion and employment rates and earnings targets for aerospace skill areas and related training programs;
Coordinate industry involvement and contributions to training programs; and
Identify and recommend training programs for review by the Workforce Board.
The Workforce Board, with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, is required to conduct evaluations of identified training programs, including outcome results, every year. The Workforce Board is also required to conduct analyses of the training system, including net impacts and cost-benefit analyses, every four years.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 23, 2012.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.