SENATE BILL REPORT

SSCR 8402

As Passed Senate, March 19, 2003

Brief Description: Encouraging legislator trade mission participation.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Shin, Swecker, T. Sheldon, Reardon, Fairley, West, Benton, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen and Winsley).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 2/19/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/19/03, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8402 be substituted therefor, and the substitute concurrent resolution do pass.

      Signed by Senators Honeyford, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Franklin, Keiser and Mulliken.

Staff: Elizabeth Mitchell (786-7430)

Background: Participants in state trade missions include the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, state agency personnel and legislators.

Summary of Bill: The Senate and the House of Representatives resolve that several protocols for legislative participation in executive agency trade missions are established.

An order of precedence for trade mission participants is created. Executive agencies must give timely notification to legislators regarding upcoming trade missions, including the trade mission itinerary.

At least one legislator from each chamber of the Legislature may participate in trade missions, depending on the size and scope of the mission. Legislators participating in trade missions may serve as leaders of the missions. The designated leader of the trade mission will work closely with executive agency staff to develop trade mission protocols.

Whenever possible, legislators possessing expertise relevant to trade missions are encouraged to participate in these missions. Legislators are encouraged to provide feedback to executive agencies following completion of trade missions.

The trade mission fee charged to legislators, their guests, and staff must not exceed the actual costs associated with their participation in the trade mission.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date:

Testimony For: Trade missions bring important business to the state. Almost one in three jobs in the state is trade-related. Elected officials help to make trade missions more successful and achieve the missions' goals. Trade missions are important to form economic and cultural ties between countries.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Dennis Matson, Thurston EDC; Brent Heinemann, Office of International Relations & Trade; Eric Hurlburt, WSDA.

House Amendment(s): Legislators are given fourth priority on the order of precedence list for trade missions. No differentiation between leadership and other members is made when determining precedence.