(1) The legislature establishes a comprehensive green economy jobs growth initiative based on the goal of, by 2020, increasing the number of green economy jobs to twenty-five thousand from the eight thousand four hundred green economy jobs the state had in 2004.

     (2) The department, in consultation with the employment security department, the state workforce training and education coordinating board, the state board of [for] community and technical colleges, and the higher education coordinating board, shall develop a defined list of terms, consistent with current workforce and economic development terms, associated with green economy industries and jobs.

     (3)(a) The employment security department, in consultation with the department, the state workforce training and education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, Washington State University small business development center, and the Washington State University extension energy program, shall conduct labor market research to analyze the current labor market and projected job growth in the green economy, the current and projected recruitment and skill requirement of green economy industry employers, the wage and benefits ranges of jobs within green economy industries, and the education and training requirements of entry-level and incumbent workers in those industries.

     (b) The University of Washington business and economic development center shall: Analyze the current opportunities for and participation in the green economy by minority and women-owned business enterprises in Washington; identify existing barriers to their successful participation in the green economy; and develop strategies with specific policy recommendations to improve their successful participation in the green economy. The research may be informed by the research of the Puget Sound regional council prosperity partnership, as well as other entities. The University of Washington business and economic development center shall report to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate on their research, analysis, and recommendations by December 1, 2008.

     (4) Based on the findings from subsection (3) of this section, the employment security department, in consultation with the department and taking into account the requirements and goals of chapter 14, Laws of 2008 and other state clean energy and energy efficiency policies, shall propose which industries will be considered high-demand green industries, based on current and projected job creation and their strategic importance to the development of the state's green economy. The employment security department and the department shall take into account which jobs within green economy industries will be considered high-wage occupations and occupations that are part of career pathways to the same, based on family-sustaining wage and benefits ranges. These designations, and the results of the employment security department's broader labor market research, shall inform the planning and strategic direction of the department, the state workforce training and education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the higher education coordinating board.

     (5) The department shall identify emerging technologies and innovations that are likely to contribute to advancements in the green economy, including the activities in designated innovation partnership zones established in RCW 43.330.270.

     (6) The department, consistent with the priorities established by the state economic development commission, shall:

     (a) Develop targeting criteria for existing investments, and make recommendations for new or expanded financial incentives and comprehensive strategies, to recruit, retain, and expand green economy industries and small businesses; and

     (b) Make recommendations for new or expanded financial incentives and comprehensive strategies to stimulate research and development of green technology and innovation, including designating innovation partnership zones linked to the green economy.

     (7) For the purposes of this section, "target populations" means (a) entry-level or incumbent workers in high-demand green industries who are in, or are preparing for, high-wage occupations; (b) dislocated workers in declining industries who may be retrained for high-wage occupations in high-demand green industries; (c) dislocated agriculture, timber, or energy sector workers who may be retrained for high-wage occupations in high-demand green industries; (d) eligible veterans or national guard members; (e) disadvantaged populations; or (f) anyone eligible to participate in the state opportunity grant program under RCW 28B.50.271.

     (8) The legislature directs the state workforce training and education coordinating board to create and pilot green industry skill panels. These panels shall consist of business representatives from industry sectors related to clean energy, labor unions representing workers in those industries or labor affiliates administering state-approved, joint apprenticeship programs or labor-management partnership programs that train workers for these industries, state and local veterans agencies, employer associations, educational institutions, and local workforce development councils within the region that the panels propose to operate, and other key stakeholders as determined by the applicant. Any of these stakeholder organizations are eligible to receive grants under this section and serve as the intermediary that convenes and leads the panel. Panel applicants must provide labor market and industry analysis that demonstrates high demand, or demand of strategic importance to the development of the state's clean energy economy as identified in this section, for high-wage occupations, or occupations that are part of career pathways to the same, within the relevant industry sector. The panel shall:

     (a) Conduct labor market and industry analyses, in consultation with the employment security department, and drawing on the findings of its research when available;

     (b) Plan strategies to meet the recruitment and training needs of the industry and small businesses; and

     (c) Leverage and align other public and private funding sources.

     (9) The green industries jobs training account is created in the state treasury. Moneys from the account must be utilized to supplement the state opportunity grant program established under RCW 28B.50.271. All receipts from appropriations directed to the account must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the activities identified in this subsection. The state board for community and technical colleges, in consultation with the state workforce training and education coordinating board, informed by the research of the employment security department and the strategies developed in this section, may authorize expenditures from the account. The state board for community and technical colleges must distribute grants from the account on a competitive basis.

     (a)(i) Allowable uses of these grant funds, which should be used when other public or private funds are insufficient or unavailable, may include:

     (A) Curriculum development;

     (B) Transitional jobs strategies for dislocated workers in declining industries who may be retrained for high-wage occupations in green industries;

     (C) Workforce education to target populations; and

     (D) Adult basic and remedial education as necessary linked to occupation skills training.

     (ii) Allowable uses of these grant funds do not include student assistance and support services available through the state opportunity grant program under RCW 28B.50.271.

     (b) Applicants eligible to receive these grants may be any organization or a partnership of organizations that has demonstrated expertise in:

     (i) Implementing effective education and training programs that meet industry demand; and

     (ii) Recruiting and supporting, to successful completion of those training programs carried out under these grants, the target populations of workers.

     (c) In awarding grants from the green industries jobs training account, the state board for community and technical colleges shall give priority to applicants that demonstrate the ability to:

     (i) Use labor market and industry analysis developed by the employment security department and green industry skill panels in the design and delivery of the relevant education and training program, and otherwise utilize strategies developed by green industry skills [skill] panels;

     (ii) Leverage and align existing public programs and resources and private resources toward the goal of recruiting, supporting, educating, and training target populations of workers;

     (iii) Work collaboratively with other relevant stakeholders in the regional economy;

     (iv) Link adult basic and remedial education, where necessary, with occupation skills training;

     (v) Involve employers and, where applicable, labor unions in the determination of relevant skills and competencies and, where relevant, the validation of career pathways; and

     (vi) Ensure that supportive services, where necessary, are integrated with education and training and are delivered by organizations with direct access to and experience with the targeted population of workers.

[2008 c 14 § 9.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Intent -- Scope of chapter 14, Laws of 2008 -- Severability -- 2008 c 14: See RCW 70.235.005, 70.235.900, and 70.235.901.