FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1529

                     Synopsis as Enacted

                         C 316 L 93

Brief Description:  Reauthorizing certain timber programs.

By House Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Springer, Morton, Chappell, Holm, Campbell, King, Jones, Basich, Rayburn, Sheldon and Kessler; by request of Office of Financial Management).

Background:  Economic assistance is provided to timber communities and the timber industry by coordinating state economic development services to timber communities, by providing technical and other assistance to the timber industry, by increasing financing for economic development-related public infrastructure in timber communities, and by increasing exports from timber communities.

Dislocated timber workers receive extended unemployment insurance, training and tuition assistance, extension of the Basic Health Plan, mortgage/rental assistance, and social services in timber communities.

State efforts are coordinated by an Economic Recovery Coordination Board, an Agency Timber Task Force, and a timber recovery coordinator.

Increased financing for public infrastructure in timber communities is provided through the Community Economic Revitalization Board, the public works trust fund, and the development loan fund.  A separate account under the Community Economic Revitalization Board finances economic development-related infrastructure in timber communities without requiring that the loan or grant be tied to a specific business.  The public works trust fund can be used for new public infrastructure in timber communities.  Timber communities are added as a priority for the development loan fund.

The Economic Recovery Coordination Board, the Agency Timber Task Force, the timber recovery coordinator, and several of the financing programs expire on June 30, 1993.

Summary:  The Economic Recovery Coordination Board, the Agency Timber Task Force, and the timber recovery coordinator position are extended until June 30, 1995.

The timber programs in the public works trust fund and the Community Economic Recovery Board (CERB) are extended to June 30, 1995.  Counties and cities are authorized to use timber funds from CERB for buildings and structures.  Unemployment benefits for dislocated timber workers are extended to cover workers who become unemployed through July 1, 1995.  Eligible persons may receive benefits for up to 104 weeks, plus five more weeks after the person finishes approved training.  An unemployed person from a plant that closes after November 1, 1992, who, for good cause, did not develop a required training plan is allowed additional time to complete the plan.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  97 0

Senate 46 0 (Senate amended)

                 (House refused to concur)

Conference Committee

Senate 32 15

House  67 31

Effective:  June 30, 1993(Sections 1 - 9)

              May 12, 1993(Section 10)