HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6220

                  As Passed House - Amended

                        March 3, 1994

Title:  An act relating to quality awards.

Brief Description:  Creating the quality award council.

Sponsors:  Senator Cantu.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade, Economic Development & Housing, February 24, 1994, DPA.

Passed House - Amended, March 3, 1994.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Wineberry, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Schoesler, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Campbell; Casada; Conway; Quall; Sheldon; Springer; Valle and Wood.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:  Businesses have found that to survive in an economic environment where customers are no longer bound by national interests, they must offer quality products and services that outperform those of worldwide competitors.  Nationally, the Malcolm Baldridge Award has set standards for excellence, encouraged organizational self-assessment, identified successful organizations as role models, and promoted a commitment to quality improvement.  Many states have established state quality awards to further these same goals.

Summary of Bill:  The Washington Quality Award Council is established as a part of the Quality for Washington State Foundation.  The council membership consists of the Governor, who shall serve as chairperson, and the director of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, who shall serve as vice chairperson.  The remaining members are appointed by the Governor from a list of nominees submitted by the Quality for Washington State Foundation.  The members appointed to the council must have experience in new production technologies, methods of quality control and labor-management relations.

The council is to establish the Governor's Quality Achievement Award Program.  The purpose of the award is to annually recognize organizations that improve the quality of their products and services and are examples of high performance work organizations.  The council must develop and make available a list of quality improvement-related resources.  It may also conduct public information, research and assistance programs.

The council is to report to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature on its activities by January 1 of every other year and make recommendations regarding state programs or policies encouraging quality improvement and the development of high performance work organizations.  The council ceases to exist on July 1, 2004 unless extended by the Legislature.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill has an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  The quality of a product or service is its most important feature.  The Washington Quality Award Council can reward businesses for excellence in the workplace.  The award will be an incentive to those businesses with quality products and services.  The standards for excellence in the state program will follow the national standards for excellence.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Emilio Cantu, prime sponsor (pro); Bill Walker, South Seattle Community College (pro); Joe Heath, American Society on Quality Control (pro); and Dave Bower, Quality for Washington State Foundation (pro).