FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1132

                                  C 501 L 87

BYHouse Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Jesernig, Hankins, Brooks, Vekich, Baugher, Todd, Jacobsen, Unsoeld, Cantwell, Sutherland, Grant, Hine, Rasmussen, Holm, Belcher, Wineberry, Hargrove, Beck, Schoon, Braddock, Amondson, McMullen, Moyer, Rayburn, Locke, Dellwo, Ebersole, Grimm, Prince, Miller, Nealey, P. King, Basich, Ferguson and Spanel)

Providing for diversification of economy of Tri-Cities.

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Hanford Nuclear Reactor is scheduled to cease plutonium production in the mid-1990s.  The United States Department of Energy issued a study predicting that 19,780 jobs would be lost statewide in the event of a shut down.  According to the study, Hanford jobs account for about 27 percent of all non-farm jobs in the Tri-Cities area, 45 percent of the non-farm payroll and 75 percent of the Tri-Cities' industry labor base.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Trade and Economic Development, in conjunction with the Department of Community Development, will study the state's role in the economic diversification of the economy of the Tri-Cities area.  The study will focus on:  higher education capabilities; methods of utilizing the Tri-Cities economic development assets to diversify the economy; methods of addressing the economic development liabilities of the area; potential markets for Tri-Cities services and products; the availability of potential funding sources; federally-developed technology transfer to the commercial arena; and the development of a diversification plan.

Relevant local, state and federal agencies must be consulted during the study process.  The department will submit a final report to the legislature by January 1, 1988.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 92   0

      Senate    49     0 (Senate amended)

      House 96   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:May 19, 1987