OLYMPIA, Wash. – Two new laws sponsored by Rep. April Connors (R-Kennewick) will help high school students enter the workforce with more opportunities to apply their skills and training.
House Bills 1414 and 1722 remove barriers preventing students from starting their careers after completing career and technical education (CTE) programs.
House Bill 1414 expands the state’s CTE task force. This task force will now include members from the Department of Labor and Industries and youth employment organizations. They will focus on identifying restrictions that hinder students from training or employment in their fields.
House Bill 1722 requires state agencies to update rules for 16- and 17-year-olds in CTE programs. This includes allowing them to test for professional licenses and work in their trained fields. The law targets outdated restrictions for certified nursing assistants, firefighter trainees, and EMS students.
“These reforms send a clear message: We trust our young people, we believe in their potential, and we’re ready to let them build their future,” Rep. April Connors said after the governor signed both bills.
Connors noted that more than 186,000 high school students participated in CTE programs during the 2022-23 school year. By 2031, one-third of jobs in Washington are expected to require education beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree, Rep. Connors said in a release.
The bills, which received bipartisan support, will take effect in late July.
For more information on career and technical education programs, visit the Association for Career and Technical Education website.
