BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to economic development; adding new sections to chapter 44.52 RCW; repealing RCW 44.52.010, 44.52.020, 44.52.030, 44.52.040, 44.52.050, 44.52.060, and 44.52.070; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) Economic development programs, which include work force training, industrial modernization, and export assistance, have become increasingly important to state efforts to encourage employment growth, increased state revenues, and general economic well-being. Economic trends are rapidly changing and markets have become increasingly competitive as states and countries seek to improve and safeguard their own economic well-being. The purpose of the executive-legislative committee on economic development is to provide responsive and consistent involvement by the executive branch and the legislature in economic development to maintain a healthy state economy and to provide employment opportunities to Washington residents.

(2) There is created an executive-legislative committee on economic development which shall consist of six senators and six members of the house of representatives, the governor or the governor's representative, and five other members appointed by the governor. The senate members of the committee shall be appointed by the president of the senate and the house members of the committee shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Not more than three members from each house shall be from the same political party. The committee shall have three cochairs: (a) The governor or the governor's representative, (b) a senator appointed from the majority caucus by the president of the senate, and (c) a house member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. A list of appointees shall be submitted before the close of each regular legislative session during an odd-numbered year or any successive special session convened by the governor or the legislature prior to the close of such regular session or successive special session or sessions for confirmation of senate members, by the senate, and house members, by the house of representatives. Vacancies occurring shall be filled by the appointing authority.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The committee shall by majority vote establish subcommittees, and prescribe rules of procedure for itself and its subcommittees which are consistent with this chapter. The committee shall be convened within ninety days of the end of each regular legislative session to establish its work plan and meeting dates for the year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The committee or its subcommittees are authorized to study and review economic development issues; including work force training, industrial modernization, export assistance, tourism, investment, and entrepreneurial development; and to assist the legislature in developing a comprehensive and consistent economic development policy. The committee's work may include:

(1) Evaluating existing state policies, laws, and programs which promote or affect economic development and determine their cost-effectiveness and level of cooperation with other public and private agencies;

(2) Monitoring economic trends, and developing for review by the legislature such appropriate state responses as may be deemed effective and appropriate;

(3) Monitoring economic development policies and programs of other states and nations and evaluating their effectiveness;

(4) Determining the economic impact of various business or industrial sectors upon the state's economy;

(5) Assessing the need for and effect of federal, regional, and state cooperation in economic development policies and programs; and

(6) Developing and evaluating legislative proposals and strategic plans concerning the issues specified in this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The committee shall receive the necessary staff support from the staff resources of the senate, house of representatives, and governor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The members of the committee shall serve without additional compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their travel expenses, in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 for members of the legislature or by the office of the governor under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 for the governor's appointees, incurred while attending sessions of the committee or meetings of any subcommittee of the committee, while engaged on other committee business authorized by the committee, and while going to and coming from committee sessions or committee meetings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The committee shall cooperate, act, and function with legislative committees, executive agencies, and with the councils or committees of other states similar to this committee and with other interstate research or policy organizations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 44.52.010 and 1985 c 467 s 17;

(2) RCW 44.52.020 and 1985 c 467 s 18;

(3) RCW 44.52.030 and 1985 c 467 s 19;

(4) RCW 44.52.040 and 1985 c 467 s 20;

(5) RCW 44.52.050 and 1985 c 467 s 21;

(6) RCW 44.52.060 and 1985 c 467 s 22; and

(7) RCW 44.52.070 and 1985 c 467 s 23.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 44.52 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993.