HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1662

             As Reported By House Committee On:

          Trade, Economic Development, and Housing

Title:  An act relating to the community economic revitalization board.

Brief Description:  Reauthorizing the community economic revitalization board.

Sponsors:  Representatives Wineberry, Shin, Forner, Sheldon, Wang, Riley, Ogden, Silver, Valle, Jones, Holm, Basich, Rayburn, Jacobsen, Kremen, Cooke and J. Kohl; by request of Department of Trade and Economic Development.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade, Economic Development, and Housing., February 18, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND HOUSING.

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Wineberry, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Forner, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Casada; Conway; Morris; Schoesler; Sheldon; Springer; Valle; and Wood.

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan (786-7340).

Background:  The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) program was created by the Legislature in 1982 to provide loans or grants to counties, cities, and ports for economic development-related infrastructure.  The loan or grant must be necessary to bring an identified business or development into the community. 

The CERB program was expanded in 1991 to provide funds for feasibility studies and public infrastructure projects that support industrial and tourism development in timber-impacted communities.  In addition, there is a Department of Transportation/CERB grant program which supports state highway improvement projects. 

Fifty percent of CERB funds are required to go to projects in designated distressed or timber-dependent communities.

CERB expires on June 30, 1993.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The expiration date of the statute authorizing CERB is extended to June 30, 1999, with a sunset review required at that time.  The board is directed to forward a copy of any application for financial assistance to encourage the development of a recycling facility to the Department of Ecology and to notify the department of any decision regarding the application.  The protections under the Public Records Act are extended to proprietary information submitted in an application for CERB loans or program services.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  An emergency clause is added to make the extension of CERB effective immediately.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed, except for section 6 which is effective immediately.

Testimony For:  CERB is an effective program that enables local governments to provide the infrastructure necessary for businesses to locate or expand.  CERB has created or retained nearly 11,000 full-time, direct jobs since its inception 10 years ago.  The program has been a key part of assistance to timber communities.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Robert Cowan, Community Economic Revitalization Board (pro); George Rohrbacher, Klickitat Economic Development Council (pro); and Scott Taylor, Washington Public Ports Association (pro).