S-360                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5005

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators West, Lee, Anderson, Conner, Johnson, Williams, Sutherland, Bauer and Smith

Prefiled with Secretary of the Senate 12/5/88.  Read first time 1/9/89 and referred to Committee on Economic Development & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to state government; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     There is established the Washington-Oregon office of state-federal relations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The governor of each state shall jointly appoint a director of the office.  The director shall report jointly to and serve at the pleasure of both governors.  The director's compensation will be determined by the governors, and shall be comparable to that of an agency deputy director.  The director shall remain in office until a successor is appointed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The director may employ such staff as is necessary to carry out the powers and functions assigned to the director under this chapter and as agreed upon by the governors.  The director and all staff members shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW.  The director shall pool resources for employment of support staff and acquisition of supplies as agreed upon by the governors.  The director shall choose the location for the office.  Costs of establishing and operating the office shall be shared equally by both states.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The powers and functions of the director shall enable the director to act as liaison from the states to the federal government.  The director's powers and duties include:

          (1) Helping to promote the states' goods and services to representatives of foreign countries, to international organizations, and to federal agencies and offices dealing in international trade and development; and serving as a source of information for businesses in the states who deal in international trade.

          (2) Providing a mechanism to identify sources of funds for economic development projects in the states and partners for regional, national, and international development projects that will enhance the economic development in each state;

          (3) Helping coordinate state and federal programs dealing with high priority subjects including, but not limited to, export development, environmental protection, job creation, training, and retraining;

          (4) Informing the governor and the legislature of each state of the existence of federal programs that will be or may be carried out in the state, or that affect state programs, including scientific research programs at federal facilities;

          (5) Providing federal agencies and the congress with information about state policy and about conditions in each state on matters about which the federal government is concerned;

          (6) Providing the legislatures with information useful in measuring the effect of federal programs on state and local programs.

          (7) Serving as a focal point and local resource for visiting state legislators, agency officials, and governors' staff;

          (8) Upon request of the governors, representing the states at meetings, seminars, and conferences in which the states have an interest.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     This office shall not be established unless the state of Oregon enacts legislation creating a joint Washington-Oregon office of state-federal relations to be located in Washington, D.C.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     The sum of two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the governor's office to be used by the joint Washington-Oregon office of state-federal relations to carry out the purposes of this act.