RCW 28C.25.010 Powers and duties. (Expires June 30, 2020.)

(1) The future of work task force is established to:

(a) Inventory and periodically assess trends and factors that are current or potential drivers of transformation of industries and work in Washington;

(b) Identify policies and practices that will help Washington's businesses, workers, and communities thrive economically, while responding to rapid changes in technology, workplace practices, environmental and security issues, and global interdependence;

(c) Recommend mechanisms and structures for sustainable industry sector partnerships through which employers and workers can collaborate to support their sector's growth in Washington; and

(d) Create a policy framework that supports a talent development pipeline and lifelong learning structure that:

(i) Prepares Washington's young people to navigate careers and workplaces of the future;

(ii) Helps workers keep their skills up-to-date or retrain for new careers when needed;

(iii) Enables attainment of credentials that are portable, transferable, and cost and time efficient;

(iv) Provides opportunities for instructional staff to keep pace with changes in their disciplines and related occupations; and

(v) Allows for collaborative applied research between businesses, instructional staff, and students to learn concurrently about new technology and assist companies with adoption.

(2) The task force must consist of:

(a) Two members from the house of representatives, with one member appointed from each of the two major caucuses of the house of representatives by the speaker of the house of representatives and the minority leader of the house of representatives;

(b) Two members from the senate, with one member appointed from each of the two major caucuses of the senate by the majority leader and minority leader of the senate; and

(c) Six business and six labor representatives appointed by the workforce training and education coordinating board.

(3) The workforce training and education coordinating board may contract with research advisors from various disciplines in order to carry out the duties of the task force.

(4) The task force may meet as appropriate, but not more than four times a year, either in person or by any means of communication by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other during the meeting.

(5) This section expires June 30, 2020.

[ 2018 c 294 § 2.]

NOTES:

Findings—2018 c 294: "The legislature finds that automation, artificial intelligence, access to new forms of data, and the internet of things are driving mass transformation of all sectors and almost all occupations. Researchers predict anywhere from thirty to forty-seven percent of jobs will be replaced by robots by 2030.

The legislature further finds that the United States has already lost millions of jobs to automation. In manufacturing alone, since 2000, robots have taken over four million four hundred thousand jobs. By comparison, six hundred thousand manufacturing jobs were lost due to foreign competition.

Blue collar and technical workers have been hit hardest and are the least likely to find employment with similar or higher wage levels. On the employer side, small and midsized suppliers lose their competitive advantage when larger businesses bring automated processes in-house.

Finally, the legislature recognizes that in rural and suburban regions, small and midsized businesses are critical to the local economy. When these businesses close, they are unlikely to be replaced quickly by enterprises that can absorb dislocated workers and middle class wages." [ 2018 c 294 § 1.]