FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2673

C 66 L 12

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Addressing transportation workforce development.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Clibborn, Hunt, Liias, Kenney, Lytton, Green, Probst, Goodman, Dickerson, Ryu, Seaquist, Darneille, Cody, Carlyle, Sullivan, Kirby, Ormsby, Ladenburg, Moscoso, Springer, Hasegawa, Maxwell, Wylie, Tharinger and Pollet).

House Committee on Labor & Workforce Development

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

On-the-Job Training Programs.

The Federal Highway Administration On-the-Job Training (OJT) program is established in federal law. It requires state transportation agencies receiving certain federal funds to establish apprenticeship and training programs aimed at increasing the number of women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals in journey-level highway construction positions. The stated goal is to ensure a competent workforce to meet highway construction hiring needs and to address the historical under-representation of these groups in highway construction skilled crafts.

The OJT/Supportive Services program was created in federal regulation to supplement the OJT program by providing services to highway construction contractors and assistance to highway construction apprentices and trainees. Under federal law, the federal Secretary of Transportation may fund the OJT/Supportive Services in an amount not to exceed $10 million annually. These funds are distributed through a competitive grant process. State transportation agencies may also use up to one-half of 1 percent of funds apportioned to the state under the federal Surface Transportation Program and the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program for the OJT/Supportive Services. The OJT/Supportive Services may fund recruitment, skills training, job placement, child care, outreach, transportation to work sites, post-graduation follow-up, and job-site mentoring.

In Washington the OJT/Support Services Unit is within the Office of Equal Opportunity at the Washington State Department of Transportation (Department). The OJT/Supportive Services Unit's stated goal is to provide support services to increase the number of minorities and women participating in the federal-aid highway construction industry. It is currently funded through funds received through the competitive grant process.

Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.

The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (Council) oversees the state apprenticeship program within the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). The Council establishes apprenticeship program standards, approves apprenticeship training programs, and otherwise governs apprenticeship programs.

Summary:

The Department must expend federal funds received under the federal OJT program to increase diversity in the highway construction workforce and prepare individuals interested in entering the highway construction workforce by providing certain OJT/Supportive Services. The Department must coordinate with the Council to provide any portion of these OJT/Supportive Services:

• preapprenticeship programs;

• preemployment counseling;

• orientations on the highway construction industry, including outreach to women, minorities, and other disadvantaged individuals;

• basic skills improvement classes;

• career counseling;

• remedial training;

• entry requirements for training programs;

• supportive services and assistance with transportation;

• child care and special needs;

• job-site mentoring and retention services; and

• assistance with tools, protective clothing, and other related support for employment costs.

The Department must, in coordination with the Council and to the extent practicable, expend moneys from other sources to provide these activities. Requirements for the Department related to these activities do not apply or reduce funds that would otherwise be allocated to local governments.

The Department, in coordination with the Council, must submit a report to the Transportation committees of the Legislature by December 1 of each year, beginning in 2012. The report must contain:

• an analysis of the results of providing these services;

• the amount available to the Department from federal funds for the services and the amount expended for those services; and

• the performance outcomes achieved from each activity, including the number of persons receiving services, training, and employment.

Votes on Final Passage: