HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1780
As Passed House:
February 2, 2022
Title: An act relating to workforce education investment accountability and oversight board staffing changes.
Brief Description: Concerning workforce education investment accountability and oversight board staffing changes.
Sponsors: Representatives Slatter and Chambers.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
College & Workforce Development: 1/17/22, 1/26/22 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/2/22, 96-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Changes the staffing of the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight (WEIAO) Board to the Washington Student Achievement Council and permits the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to maintain the WEIAO Board data dashboard.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COLLEGE & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 11 members:Representatives Slatter, Chair; Entenman, Vice Chair; Leavitt, Vice Chair; Chambers, Ranking Minority Member; Jacobsen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hansen, Kraft, Paul, Pollet, Sells and Sutherland.
Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).
Background:

The Legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2158 in 2019, known as the Workforce Education Investment Act (WEIA).  The WEIA established the Workforce Education Investment Account that is funded from an increase in the Business and Occupation Tax.  The Workforce Education Investment Account is solely for funding higher education expenses.  As a part of the WEIA, the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight (WEIAO) Board was established for two purposes:  

  • provide guidance and recommendations to the Legislature on what workforce education priorities should be funded from the Workforce Education Investment Account; and
  • ensure accountability that the investments funded from the Workforce Education Investment Account are producing the intended results and effectively increasing student success and career readiness. 

 

The WEIAO Board has 17 members, including legislators and representatives from businesses impacted by the tax, higher education, labor, and students.  The WEIAO Board is staffed by the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) and is required to meet four times a year. 
Summary of Bill:

The Student Achievement Council (Council) is tasked with staffing the WEIAO Board.  The Workforce Board must maintain the WEIAO Board's data dashboard on a public-facing portal. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is a staffing change to move administration of the WEIOA Board to the Council because the Council is the higher education agency.  Given that most of the investments under the WEIA are related to programs like the Washington College Grant and postsecondary credential attainment generally, it seems like a natural fit for the Council to staff.  The Workforce Board was handed a difficult task of standing up a new board during the COVID-19 pandemic with insufficient staffing.  The Workforce Board has done an incredible job with putting together a data dashboard, and they have assisted with publishing the first legislative report.  The Workforce Board will maintain the dashboard and stay engaged in that piece. 
 

(Opposed) None.

 

(Other) Available for questions.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Vandana Slatter, prime sponsor; and Neil Strege, Washington Roundtable.
(Other) Eleni Papadakis, Workforce Board.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.