BILL REQ. #:  H-4863.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/05/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a plan for improving the effectiveness of the office of minority and women's business enterprises; amending RCW 39.19.041; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The office of minority and women's business enterprises shall establish a plan, with timelines, to complete the following, with the overall goal of improving the effectiveness of the office of minority and women's business enterprises:
     (a) A project to streamline the statewide certification process and improve the efficiency by which business applications for certification are submitted and approved. The project must also include improvements in outreach capability and improvements to the certification process that will facilitate certified firms' inclusion in purchases made by state agencies and educational institutions.
     (b) A project to improve the ability of the office to encourage participation of firms certified under chapter 39.19 RCW as prime contractors and subcontractors in contracts awarded by state agencies and educational institutions.
     (c) A database that allows the office to communicate and obtain data from other state agencies and to develop reports related to the participation in agency contracts of firms certified under chapter 39.19 RCW. The report required under subsection (2) of this section must include fiscal information, including identification of fund sources for the database project.
     (2) The office must develop the plan in consultation with the advisory committee on minority and women's business enterprises, and must report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, on the plan required by this section.

Sec. 2   RCW 39.19.041 and 1995 c 269 s 1302 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) By July 1, 2008, the director ((may)) shall establish ((ad hoc advisory committees, as necessary,)) an advisory committee on minority and women's business enterprises to assist in the development of policies to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
     (2) It is the legislature's intent that the advisory committee be as representative and diverse as possible.
     (a) The advisory committee membership must include at least the following representation and take into account statewide geographic distribution of members:
     (i) Businesses certified under this chapter;
     (ii) Organizations that represent businesses certified under this chapter; and
     (iii) State agencies, with representation of both large and small agencies.
     (b) The legislature strongly recommends that local jurisdictions also participate on the advisory committee.