SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 2352

        AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY &

            ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FEBRUARY 25, 1994

Brief Description:  Revising membership and duties of the governor's advisory committee on international trade.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Shin, Campbell, Patterson, Finkbeiner, Forner, Appelwick, J. Kohl, Johanson, Wineberry, Wolfe and Veloria)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Skratek, Chairman; Sheldon, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, Cantu, Erwin, M. Rasmussen and Williams.

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786‑7428)

Hearing Dates: February 16, 1994; February 25, 1994

BACKGROUND:

The Legislature established the Council on International Trade in 1993.  There are 15 members on the council, including three members of the Executive-Legislative Committee on Economic Development.  The other members represent trade organizations, Washington ports, businesses active in exporting goods, experts in export marketing and financing, and the directors of the Department of Trade and Economic Development and the Department of Agriculture.

The Council on International Trade's duties include advising the Executive-Legislative Committee on Economic Development on policies to enhance Washington exports and on potential export markets, reviewing current export programs and helping coordinate public export programs statewide, recommending methods to increase the awareness of trade to the state of Washington, and studying the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Uruguay General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations.

The council's preliminary report to the Governor and the Legislature is due by June 1, 1994, and a final report is due December 1, 1994.  The council expires on June 30, 1995.

The Governor vetoed legislation establishing the Executive-Legislative Committee on Economic Development and also vetoed provisions in the council's legislation that required the council to report its activities to the Executive-Legislative Committee on Economic Development.

SUMMARY:

The Council on International Trade is renamed the Governor's Advisory Committee on International Trade.  The membership of the advisory committee is expanded from 15 to 16 with two legislative members from the House of Representatives and two from the Senate.

The Washington State trade representative is designated chair of the advisory committee.  If the position of trade representative is not created, then the director of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development is the chair of the advisory committee.

All references to the Executive-Legislative Committee on Economic Development are deleted.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED COMMITTEE AMENDMENT:

Two labor representatives, one of whom represents longshore workers, are added to the committee.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Most of the appointments to the council have been made.  This legislation helps clarify some issues.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Eric Herlberg, Dept. of Ag (pro)