S-0903.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5430
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Senators Fraser, Bluechel, Pelz, Prentice, Moore, Prince, Moyer, Skratek and Deccio
Read first time 01/27/93. Referred to Committee on Trade, Technology & Economic Development.
AN ACT Relating to Washington state's sister-state relationship with Hyogo prefecture, Japan; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:
(1) Washington became one of the first states in the nation to enter into a sister-state relationship through the establishment by governor Albert Rosellini of a relationship with Hyogo prefecture, Japan, on October 22, 1963.
(2) The sister-state relationship has spawned eight sister-city relationships between cities in Washington state and Hyogo prefecture, including the port cities of Seattle and Kobe.
(3) The two sister states have developed close ties of friendship through thirty years of cultural, educational, and economic exchanges, including:
(a) The new leader fellowship exchange for state and prefectural government employees;
(b) The Hyogo government managers training program at the University of Washington;
(c) Arts exchanges between the Washington state arts commission and the Hyogo prefectural cultural association;
(d) A sister-hospital exchange between Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle and Hyogo Prefectural Children's Hospital in Kobe;
(e) Numerous student and teacher exchanges between Washington and Hyogo schools and universities; and
(f) The establishment of the Hyogo cultural center in Seattle.
(4) The sister-state relationship has resulted in the development of significant trade and Japanese investment in Washington state businesses.
(5) The ties developed as a result of the sister-state relationship enabled the department of trade and economic development to establish the Washington Village in Sanda City, Hyogo, an innovative and unique project to promote Washington state wood products in Japan.
(6) Hyogo prefecture undertook significant activity to commemorate previous anniversaries of this important relationship and sent an official delegation to participate in the celebration of Washington's centennial.
(7) The Hyogo prefectural government is making plans for a series of major events to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Washington-Hyogo relationship, including the visit of an official delegation of Hyogo government officials, business leaders, and citizens.
(8) A reciprocal effort by Washington to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the sister-state relationship would serve as a statement of the state's ongoing commitment to good relations between Washington state and Hyogo prefecture.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The sum of forty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, from the general fund to the governor's office of international relations and protocol for the purposes of planning for an event or series of events to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Washington-Hyogo sister-state relationship, to coordinate the activities of official visitors and delegations, and to solicit financial contributions from private sector sources to assist in planning and carrying out commemorative activities.
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