FINAL BILL REPORT

                           ESSB 5911

                          C 366 L 93

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Promoting economic development.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Trade, Technology & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Senators Cantu, Skratek, Bluechel and Winsley)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

BACKGROUND:

The Pacific Northwest Export Assistance Program (PNEAP), a branch of the Small Business Export Finance Assistance Center, was created by the Legislature in 1991 as part of the omnibus timber bill.  At least 50 percent of PNEAP's new cadres of clients each year must be from timber impact areas, and 90 percent should be businesses with gross revenues of less than $5 million.  Increased flexibility in these requirements may better allow PNEAP to serve areas which are not currently experiencing economic distress, but which are likely to experience distress due to other natural resource issues or defense budget reductions. 

SUMMARY:

Seventy-five percent of PNEAP's new clients should be very small business clients (gross revenues of less than $5 million).

The Small Business Export Assistance Finance Center is authorized to provide services, if requested, to other Pacific Northwest states and provinces.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    48   1

House     95   0    (House amended)

Senate    41   2    (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 25, 1993