SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6121

   AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY & ECONOMIC

                 DEVELOPMENT, JANUARY 26, 1994

Brief Description:  Promoting economic development.

SPONSORS: Senators Skratek, Bluechel, Sheldon, M. Rasmussen, Snyder, Loveland, Franklin, Winsley and Ludwig

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6121 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

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

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786‑7428)

Hearing Dates: January 14, 1994; January 26, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Washington's economy is increasingly shaped by global competition as other countries and states seek to safeguard and improve their economic well being.  The joint Legislative Committee on Economic Development, created in 1985 to provide consistent involvement of the Legislature in economic development issues, hasn't met since 1986.  In addition, the 1987 release of the final report of the state's Economic Development Board, "Washington Works Worldwide," was not followed with an implementation plan for carrying out its vision.  Currently no structure or institutionalized forum for development of a consensus approach to economic development exists which would allow the executive branch and the Legislature to (1) jointly address evaluation and strategic planning needs and (2) lay the policy groundwork for the public-private partnerships necessary to long-term diversification efforts.

SUMMARY:

The executive Legislative Committee on Economic Development Policy is created.  The committee consists of six senators, six house members, the Governor and five gubernatorial appointees.  The Governor's appointees are to include business and labor representatives and may include state agency directors.

The committee may establish subcommittees.  Noncommittee members may serve on these subcommittees.  The committee and its subcommittees may assist in the development of a strategic plan for the state's economic development activities, monitor the economic development efforts of state agencies, evaluate existing policies and programs, and develop and evaluate proposals for new legislative or administrative initiatives related to economic development.

The committee is to receive staff support from the Governor's office, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The joint Legislative Committee on Economic Development is abolished.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Governor's appointees are to include two business and two labor representatives.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:  April 1, 1994

TESTIMONY FOR:

The state needs an entity like this to effectively integrate its economic development efforts.  The employer community sees the need to bring both houses and the Governor together to get a common vision on where the state should go.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Jeff Johnson, State Labor Council; Pat Jones, WA Public Port Assn.; Clif Finch, AWB