AN ACT Relating to
economic diversification through film and video production; amending RCW
43.330.090; making an appropriation; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 43.330.090 and 1993
c 280 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The department
shall work with private sector organizations, local governments, local economic
development organizations, and higher education and training institutions to
assist in the development of strategies to diversify the economy, facilitate
technology transfer and diffusion, and increase value-added production by
focusing on targeted sectors. The targeted sectors may include, but are not
limited to, software, forest products, biotechnology, environmental industries,
recycling markets and waste reduction, aerospace, food processing, tourism,
film and video, microelectronics, new materials, robotics, and machine tools.
The department shall, on a continuing basis, evaluate the potential return to
the state from devoting additional resources to a targeted sector's approach to
economic development and including additional sectors in its efforts. The
department shall use information gathered in each service delivery region in
formulating its sectoral strategies and in designating new targeted sectors.
(2) The department
shall ensure that the state continues to pursue a coordinated program to expand
the tourism industry throughout the state in cooperation with the public and
private tourism development organizations. The department shall work to
provide a balance of tourism activities throughout the state and during
different seasons of the year. In addition, the department shall promote,
market, and encourage growth in the production of films and videos, as well as
television commercials within the state; to this end the department is
directed to assist in the location of a film and video production studio within
the state.
(3) In assisting in the
development of a targeted sector, the department's activities may include, but
are not limited to:
(a) Conducting focus
group discussions, facilitating meetings, and conducting studies to identify
members of the sector, appraise the current state of the sector, and identify
issues of common concern within the sector;
(b) Supporting the
formation of industry associations, publications of association directories,
and related efforts to create or expand the activities or industry
associations;
(c) Assisting in the
formation of flexible networks by providing (i) agency employees or private
sector consultants trained to act as flexible network brokers and (ii) funding
for potential flexible network participants for the purpose of organizing or
implementing a flexible network;
(d) Helping establish
research consortia;
(e) Facilitating joint
training and education programs;
(f) Promoting
cooperative market development activities;
(g) Analyzing the need,
feasibility, and cost of establishing product certification and testing
facilities and services; and
(h) Providing for
methods of electronic communication and information dissemination among firms
and groups of firms to facilitate network activity.
By January 10th of each
year, the department shall report in writing on its targeted sector programs to
the appropriate legislative economic development committees. The department's
report shall include an appraisal of the sector, activities the department has
undertaken to assist in the development of each sector, and recommendations to
the legislature regarding activities that the state should implement but are
currently beyond the scope of the department's program or resources.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
2. If specific funding for
the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided
by June 30, 1994, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. This act shall take
effect July 1, 1994.
