The committee heard a staff briefing and proponent testimony on a substitute to Senate Bill 5931, which would make administrative changes to the Workforce Education Investment (WIA) oversight board established under the Workforce Education Investment Act.
Kelly Gunn (staff) summarized the three principal changes: allowing co-chairs to serve two-year terms instead of one, moving the board’s annual reporting date to Dec. 31, and removing a statutory requirement that the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board maintain a data dashboard for the oversight board. Gunn said a fiscal note was requested and is available in the EBB.
Senator Judy Warnock, sponsor of the substitute, said the bill was requested by the Student Achievement Council and described the changes as ‘‘minor administrative changes that are important’’ to the council’s work. Joel Anderson (Washington Student Achievement Council) and Bill Line (United Faculty Washington State) testified in support, calling the fixes technical and saying they would help the board align with budget cycles and preserve institutional knowledge. Witnesses also voiced concern about recent budget changes that they say allow supplanting of general fund dollars with WEA dollars and urged vigilance.
No vote was recorded. Committee members thanked proponents and closed the hearing on SB 5931 before moving on to the next bill.