CTE careers work group

AN ACT Relating to improving access to career opportunities for 1
students who are participating in or who have completed preparatory 2
secondary career and technical education programs; creating new 3
sections; and providing an expiration date. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the state, in 6
partnership with employers and the public school system, has 7
developed and invested in career and technical education programs for 8
high school students. These programs have been developed and expanded 9
with the intent of providing 16 and 17 year old students with hands-10
on work experience, coupled with education and training to work in 11
various industries throughout our state. Many of these programs are 12
designed to allow students to begin working in the field during or 13
upon completion of the program; however, some state agencies have 14
enacted rules that place age restrictions on when a student can start 15
a program, test for a license or certification, or work in a 16
profession for which they have been issued a certification or 17
license. These restrictions are not required by federal law, are 18
inconsistent with many other state laws, and are barriers to 16 and 19
17 year old students being able to begin coursework, or work in a 20
H-0532.1
HOUSE BILL 1414
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Connors, Paul, Rude, Springer, Couture, Keaton,
McClintock, Penner, Davis, Tharinger, Shavers, and Timmons
Read first time 01/20/25. Referred to Committee on Education.
p. 1 HB 1414
profession following completion of required education, training, or 1
certification or licensure. 2
Therefore, the legislature intends to direct the office of the 3
superintendent of public instruction to convene a work group to 4
review existing laws, rules, and state agencies' policies, and 5
develop recommendations for changes to such laws, rules, and policies 6
to improve access to career opportunities for 16 and 17 year old 7
students who are participating in or who have completed preparatory 8
secondary career and technical education programs. 9
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The office of the superintendent of 10
public instruction, in consultation with the department of labor and 11
industries, shall convene a work group for the purposes of assessing 12
laws, rules, and policies affecting the learning objectives, learning 13
experience, worksite safety, certification, and employment of 16 and 14
17 year old students who are participating in or who have completed a 15
preparatory secondary career and technical education program. The 16
work group shall provide recommendations on changes to relevant laws, 17
rules, and policies necessary to improve students' access to 18
sustained interactions with industry and community professionals and 19
provide firsthand engagement with the tasks required for the various 20
career fields, while also maintaining appropriate protections for the 21
safety and welfare of minors.22
(2) In developing the recommendations required by this section, 23
the work group shall: 24
(a) Identify barriers preventing the training, certification, or 25
employment of minors who are participating in or who have completed a 26
preparatory secondary career and technical education program;27
(b) Assess categories of work from which the department of labor 28
and industries has prohibited minors from engaging, but where minors 29
are receiving or have received training through preparatory secondary 30
career and technical education programs; 31
(c) Assess categories of work from which the department of labor 32
and industries has prohibited minors from engaging, but where minors 33
have received professional licenses or certifications from a state 34
agency or other regulatory authority; 35
(d) Examine agency rules imposing age restrictions on when a 36
minor can start training, test for or receive a license or 37
certification, or work in a profession for which the minor is 38
p. 2 HB 1414
participating in or has completed a preparatory secondary career and 1
technical education program; 2
(e) Assess other agency restrictions on the working hours and 3
schedules of minors who are participating in or who have completed a 4
preparatory secondary career and technical education program; and5
(f) Assess the requirements and procedures for school districts 6
to receive approval to deliver career and technical education under 7
RCW 28A.700.010, including whether said requirements or procedures 8
account for relevant age restrictions imposed by agencies or 9
regulatory entities for training, certification, and employment.10
(3) To the extent practicable, the following entities, groups, 11
and interests must be represented in the work group:12
(a) The office of the superintendent of public instruction;13
(b) The department of labor and industries; 14
(c) An association that provides support and leadership to 15
educators in career and technical education programs;16
(d) Representatives of school district career and technical 17
education directors, worksite learning coordinators, and career and 18
technical education teachers; 19
(e) State board for community and technical colleges;20
(f) Career connect Washington and the career connected learning 21
cross-agency work group established under RCW 28C.30.030;22
(g) The workforce training and education coordinating board;23
(h) A state association of skill centers; 24
(i) Representatives of interested businesses and employer 25
associations and organizations; 26
(j) Representatives of interested labor organizations in relevant 27
trades; and 28
(k) Representatives of other interested entities, groups, and 29
interests identified by the office of the superintendent of public 30
instruction. 31
(4) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, the 32
department of labor and industries, and other affected agencies may 33
initiate changes to agency rules and practices based on 34
recommendations of the work group prior to the issuance of the 35
required reports and any related legislative action, provided that 36
any such changes comply with federal and state law.37
(5) The work group shall submit to the appropriate committees of 38
the legislature, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036, an initial report 39
with recommendations by December 1, 2025, and a final report with 40
p. 3 HB 1414
recommendations by October 1, 2026. The recommendations may include 1
proposals to modify state laws and agency rules and practices. The 2
reports must include a summary of any changes to agency rules, 3
policies, and practices initiated or completed as a result of the 4
work group's findings and recommendations. 5
(6) This section expires August 1, 2027. 6
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