S-1473.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5817
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Senator Sutherland
Read first time 02/07/95. Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
AN ACT Relating to the establishment of a telecommunications and information industries development office; adding a new section to chapter 43.330 RCW; 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) Telecommunications and information industries are a major source of economic growth nationally and in the state of Washington. It finds that more than half of the labor force in the United States is in telecommunications and information-related jobs and that, in Washington, employment in these sectors of the economy outpaces most others. It further finds that, in Washington, telecommunications and information industries offer significant employment opportunities that help offset job losses in other industries;
(2) Many other states are actively working to develop and promote their advanced telecommunications and information industries, thereby attracting new and existing businesses that might otherwise locate, relocate, or remain in Washington; and
(3) State government must work to ensure competitiveness with other states in developing the telecommunications and information industries, in attracting new business to Washington, and in addressing the needs of existing telecommunications and information businesses in the state of Washington.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.330 RCW to read as follows:
There is created within the department the Washington telecommunications and information industries development office to promote development of the telecommunications and information industries in Washington. In administering the office, the director shall:
(1) Implement a strategy to attract new businesses and investment in the telecommunications and information industries to Washington and to create new business opportunities for Washington companies in those industries;
(2) Act as a liaison for telecommunications and information businesses seeking to locate or relocate in Washington by facilitating access to information about the state, its laws and rules, local laws and regulations, and available telecommunications infrastructure or services;
(3) Work with institutions of postsecondary education, including community and technical colleges, to ensure the availability of degree and nondegree programs to provide training necessary for high-technology jobs in the telecommunications and information industries;
(4) Conduct studies on matters affecting the health and development of the telecommunications and information industries, including but not limited to matters concerning development in rural areas, employment and training needs, and geographic or economic trends within the industries; and
(5) Submit an annual report, by December 31, to the legislature outlining the progress in implementing this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The sum of . . . hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the public service revolving fund to the Washington state telecommunications and information industries development office for the purpose of providing staffing and support.
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