5646-S

AN ACT Relating to educational, cultural, and business exchange programs; adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 43.07 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes the importance of educational, cultural, and business exchange programs in developing mutually beneficial relationships between Washington state and other countries. In order to promote trade and enhance international, educational opportunities the legislature strongly encourages cities, counties, ports, and others to establish sister school relationships within their established sister relationships.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

The department of community, trade, and economic development in consultation with the office of international relations and protocol shall provide information and assist local governments in maintaining their established sister relationships in other countries. The department shall encourage and promote the use of its services for this purpose.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The international education and exchange council is created in the secretary of state's office. The council is established as a public-private partnership. The purpose of the council is to assist the governor, the legislature, elected state officials, state and local agencies, educational institutions, businesses, and organizations that foster international education and cultural exchanges as these organizations and agencies attempt to implement and further develop Washington's efforts to work with targeted training partners and with educational and trade organizations from outside the United States.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The initial members of the council may include, but need not be limited to:

(a) Representatives from the department of community, trade, and economic development; the department of agriculture; the office of the secretary of state; and the office of protocol;

(b) Two members of the house of representatives, one from each caucus, selected by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(d) Representatives of the common schools and public and private institutions of higher education;

(e) Representatives of the businesses community who are working in state international trade efforts;

(f) Representatives of organizations dedicated to international trade and cultural exchanges; and

(g) Interested members of the public selected by the secretary of state.

(2) The initial nonlegislative members shall be selected by the governor and the secretary of state.

(3) When the initial board members leave the council, any replacements shall be selected by members of the council.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The duties of the council may include, but need not be limited to:

(1) Advising the governor, elected state officials, the legislature, and others as appropriate on the needs of Washington state for international education and cultural exchange opportunities;

(2) Assisting efforts by state and local governments, business, education, and others to work with businesses, governmental units, educational institutions, and organizations outside the United States, with an emphasis on organizations, businesses, agencies, and educational institutions in the countries that comprise Washington's targeted trading partners.

(3) Promoting efforts to enhance cultural and education exchange opportunities;

(4) Maintaining a data base on cultural exchange opportunities and state residents who have participated in international exchanges;

(5) Monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the Washington task force on international education and cultural exchanges; and

(6) Undertaking other duties as assigned.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The council may establish a private, nonprofit corporation created specifically to foster international education and cultural exchanges. Any such private, nonprofit corporation shall qualify as a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation under section 501(c) of the federal internal revenue code.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The secretary of state and the council may accept gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises, of real or personal property, or both, in trust or otherwise, and sell, lease, exchange, invest, or expend these donations or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income from the donations except as limited by the donor's terms. The secretary of state shall adopt rules to govern and protect the receipt and expenditure of the proceeds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The legislature believes that Washington state has hundreds of residents with expertise that they are willing to share with developing international trade partners on a volunteer basis. The legislature believes that by sharing their knowledge and skills, these residents could enrich the lives of all Washingtonians by promoting friendship and understanding between cultures, providing trained manpower improving the lives of their friends overseas, and creating a positive international image of Washington state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The secretary of state may develop a pilot project to furnish developing international trading partners with technical assistance, training, and expertise through the voluntary services provided by Washington residents. The secretary of state shall establish appropriate procedures to carry out the project. The secretary of state may appoint a director of the project who serves at the pleasure of the secretary of state, and appropriate staff as funding allows, however, the secretary of state shall be responsible for the continuous supervision and general direction of the project.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. (1) The secretary of state may enroll in the project residents of Washington state. These residents, referred to in this section and section 6 of this act as volunteers, shall be selected based on their skills, expertise, and language proficiency, the technical, educational, or training needs of the participating country, and other considerations deemed relevant by the secretary of state to furthering the goals and purposes of the project. The secretary of state shall consider for participation in the program retired persons, students, and persons whose skills and backgrounds will contribute to the success of the program. In carrying out this subsection, there shall be no discrimination against any person based on race, sex, creed, or color.

(2) Volunteers shall not be deemed officers or employees of the state of Washington or otherwise in the service or employment of, or holding office under, the state of Washington.

(3) The terms and conditions of the enrollment, training, compensation, hours of work, benefits, leave, termination, and all other conditions of service of volunteers shall be exclusively those set forth by the terms of the project. Service as a volunteer may be terminated at any time at the pleasure of the secretary of state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) If funding is available, volunteers may be provided with living, travel, and leave allowances, and such housing, transportation, supplies, and equipment as the secretary of state may deem necessary for their maintenance and to ensure their health and their capacity to serve effectively. Transportation may be provided to volunteers for travel to and from the country of service.

(2) The secretary of state may establish policies regarding arrangements for spouses and children of volunteers to accompany the volunteers abroad.

(3) The secretary of state shall indemnify the state for claims relating to the project.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Funding for the volunteer activities shall come entirely from federal funds, private support funds, grant money available to implement technical assistance programs overseas, and such other funds as the secretary of state may receive from nonstate sources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. A new section is added to chapter 43.07 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The legislature finds that knowledge of international exchange students who have studied in Washington state institutions of higher education, especially those from key trading partner countries, and knowledge of Washington state students, interns, and citizens working and studying abroad, is critical to the ability of Washington businesses and citizens to establish contacts and networks in the competitive world market.

(2) The secretary of state shall develop and maintain a data base, to be known as the international contact data base, listing (a) Washington students, interns, and citizens working and studying overseas; (b) international students who have studied at Washington educational institutions; and (c) exchange opportunities for Washington residents wishing to participate in education, internships, or technical assistance programs in the areas of agriculture, hydroelectric power, aerospace, computers and technology, academics, medicine, and communications. The data base shall be designed to be used as a resource for Washington citizens, businesses, and other entities seeking contacts in international trade markets overseas.

(3) The department of community, trade, and economic development and the office of protocol shall assist the secretary of state in designing and developing the data base and in obtaining data for inclusion in the data base. Four-year educational institutions and their alumni associations are encouraged to maintain data concerning students studying or working abroad, international students attending their institutions, and exchange opportunities available to their students and other citizens, and to make such data freely available to the secretary of state for inclusion in the data base.

(4) The information contained in the data base shall be made available on request for inspection or copying for free or at cost. The secretary of state shall not distinguish among persons requesting information from the data base, though the secretary of state may request information from requesters for purposes of monitoring trade contacts and evaluating the uses and effectiveness of the data base.

(5) Any person listed in the data base may request in writing that his or her name, address, telephone number, or other identifying information be omitted from the data base. Nothing in this section prohibits the secretary of state from refusing to disclose information exempt from disclosure under RCW 42.17.310.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. The department of community, trade, and economic development, in consultation with the office of protocol, the office of the secretary of state, the department of agriculture, and the employment security department shall identify up to fifteen countries that are of strategic importance to the development of Washington's international trade relations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. Sections 3 through 7 of this act are each added to chapter 43.07 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. Sections 8 through 12 and 14 of this act shall expire December 31, 1999.