SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5882

        AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY &

              ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MARCH 2, 1993

Brief Description:  Creating a Washington council for the future.

SPONSORS: Senators Skratek, Erwin, Bluechel, Sheldon, M. Rasmussen and Winsley

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5882 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means. 

     Signed by Senators Skratek, Chairman; Sheldon, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, Deccio, Erwin, M. Rasmussen, and Williams.

Staff:  Midori Okazaki (786‑7444)

Hearing Dates: February 24, 1993; March 2, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Among the recommendations of the Washington State Economic Development Board in its 1988 report "Washington Works Worldwide" was the creation of an independent council to oversee the implementation of a long-term economic development strategy.  Such a board was to keep both the public and private sectors focus on the goals of the strategy and measure progress towards those goals.  The board was never formed and many other of the report's recommendations were never implemented.

Lack of accountability has also diminished the results of previous economic development plans.  Tangible measures of achievements, or benchmarks, can act as a report card of progress for the economic development leaders and the public.  They can also assist in prioritizing how scarce resources should be spent.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Council for the Future is created.  The council is to assess the progress the state is making it achieving its long-term economic development goals.  The Governor is to appoint seven members to six-year terms, and the makeup of the council is to reflect the cultural, ethnic, economic and geographic diversity of the state.

The council is to establish benchmarks by which progress towards the state's economic development goals can be measured.  The benchmarks are to focus as much as possible on measurable outcomes and are to measure three general categories:  human resources, economic health and quality of life.

The council is to report every even-numbered year to the Legislature on the state's progress in achieving benchmarks.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The council is to be established outside of any state agency and council members will be reimbursed for travel expenses.  The council will work cooperatively with the Executive-Legislature Committee on Economic Development in translating the committee's economic policy into benchmarks.  State agencies are directed to work cooperatively with the council in collecting data to use in measuring progress towards benchmarks.

Appropriation:  $350,000

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Benchmarks are an important tool in presenting an organized picture of the future and give policymakers and the public something to work towards.  They are also a useful tool to organize available resources to achieve that picture.  If the state adopts benchmarks on a broad basis, local governments can be expected to follow suit.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Ellen O'Brien Saunders, Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board (pro)