S-4809               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6871

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Benitz, Hayner and Patterson

Read first time 2/1/90 and referred to Committee on  Economic Development & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to the Tri-Cities economy; adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the Tri-Cities area has been subjected to several extreme economic cycles related to defense materials production.  The legislature further finds that continued diversification of the Tri-Cities economy will help stabilize and improve the Tri-Cities economy, and that this effort can be aided by emphasizing the resources of local expertise and nearby facilities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

          When the department implements programs intended to attract or maintain industrial or high-technology investments in the state, the department shall, to the extent possible, emphasize the following:

          (1) The highly skilled and trained work force in the Tri-Cities area;

          (2) The world-class research facilities in the area, including the fast flux test facility and the Pacific Northwest laboratories;

          (3) The existence of the one thousand acres leased by the state from the federal government for the purpose of nuclear-related industries; and

          (4) The ability for high-technology and medical industries to safely dispose of low-level radioactive waste at the Hanford commercial low-level waste disposal facility.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of forty 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 department of trade and economic development for the purposes of promoting awareness and to generate sources of investment in the fast flux test facility at Hanford, under section 2(2) of this act.