HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5699

                       As Passed House

                        April 9, 1993

Title:  An act relating to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region.

Brief Description:  Changing the organizational structure of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Trade, Technology & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Senators Bluechel, Snyder, Cantu, Gaspard, Jesernig, Skratek, Erwin and M. Rasmussen; by request of Governor Lowry).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade, Economic Development & Housing, April 1, 1993, DP;

Passed House, April 9, 1993, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

Majority Report:  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; Quall; Schoesler; Springer; Valle; and Wood.

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan (786-7340).

Background:  Washington State joined the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) in 1991.  Legislative leaders from the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington and the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta currently participate in the PNWER. 

PNWER seeks to develop and establish policies that promote greater regional collaboration among the seven entities; enhance the overall competitiveness of the region in international and domestic markets; increase the economic well-being of all citizens in the region; and improve the quality of life of the citizens of the Pacific Northwest.

The current organizational structure of the PNWER consists of a delegate council which consists of four legislators from each participating state and four representatives of each participating province; and an executive committee consisting of one legislator from each participating state and/or province who is a member of the delegate council.

Summary of Bill:  The organizational structure of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) is modified.  The delegate council is expanded to include the governor or governor's designee from each participating state and the premier or premier's designee from each participating province.  The executive committee is also expanded to include four of the seven governors or premiers or their designees who are members of the delegate council.

The duties of the executive committee are expanded to include examining the availability of status as a nonprofit organization under United States and Canadian laws and, if appropriate, applying for such status for the PNWER organization.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  PNWER is off to a good start, but is now only a legislative organization.  It is important for the long-term effectiveness of PNWER to bring the executive branches into the organizations, particularly in the provinces where the distinction between the executive and legislative branches is much smaller than in the states.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Alan Bluechel, prime sponsor (pro).