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SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 2758
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Passed Legislature -
1996 Regular Session
State of Washington 54th
Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/02/96.
Measuring state
fiscal conditions.
AN ACT Relating to the
measurement of state fiscal conditions and economic performance; adding a new
chapter to Title 82 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec.
1. The citizens of
Washington should enjoy a high quality of life, which requires a healthy state
economy. To achieve this goal, the legislature recognizes that the state must
be able to compete economically at a national and international level. It is
critical to the economic well-being of the citizens of this state that the
legislature strive to continually improve the state's economic climate.
Therefore, the legislature intends to provide a mechanism whereby the
information necessary to achieve this goal is available on a timely and
reliable basis.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
2. (1) The economic climate
council is hereby created.
(2) The council shall select
a series of no more than ten benchmarks that characterize the competitive
environment of the state. The benchmarks should be indicators of the cost of
doing business; the education and skills of the work force; a sound
infrastructure; and the quality of life. In selecting the appropriate
benchmarks, the council shall use the following criteria:
(a) The availability of
comparative information for other states and countries;
(b) The timeliness with
which benchmark information can be obtained; and
(c) The accuracy and
validity of the benchmarks in measuring the economic climate indicators named
in this section.
The council shall
report to the legislature by September 30, 1996, on the benchmarks selected
under this subsection (2).
(3) Twice each year the
council shall prepare an official state economic climate report on the present
status of benchmarks, changes in the benchmarks since the previous report, and
the reasons for the changes. The reports shall include current benchmark
comparisons with other states and countries, and an analysis of factors related
to the benchmarks that may affect the ability of the state to compete
economically at the national and international level.
(4) The council shall
submit reports prepared under this section to the governor and the fiscal
committees of the senate and the house of representatives on or before March
31st and September 30th of each year. The first report shall be made by
September 30, 1996.
(5) All agencies of
state government shall provide to the council immediate access to all
information relating to economic climate reports.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
3. (1) Until July 1, 1997,
the economic and revenue forecast council shall, in addition to its other
duties and responsibilities, function as the economic climate council created
under section 2 of this act.
(2) The staff of the
economic and revenue forecast council shall serve as staff to the economic
climate council until July 1, 1997.
(3) By September 30,
1996, the council shall make recommendations to the legislature regarding: (a)
Permanent composition of the economic climate council, including the procedures
for appointment of members, length of terms, selection of a chair, and reimbursement
for expenses or other compensation; and (b) a permanent staffing structure to
support the work of the economic climate council.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
4. (1) The economic climate
council shall create an advisory committee to assist the council in selecting
benchmarks and developing economic climate reports and benchmarks. The
advisory committee shall provide for a process to ensure public participation
in the selection of the benchmarks. The advisory committee shall consist of no
more than seven members. At least two of the members of the advisory committee
shall have experience in and represent business, and at least two of the
members shall have experience in and represent labor. All of the members of
the advisory committee shall have special expertise and interest in the state's
economic climate and competitive strategies. Appointments to the advisory
committee shall be recommended by the chair of the council and approved by a
two-thirds vote of the council. The chair of the advisory committee shall be
selected by the members of the committee.
(2) The advisory
committee shall meet as determined by the chair of the committee until
September 30, 1996, and shall meet at least twice per year thereafter in
advance of the economic climate reports due on March 31st and September 30th of
each year.
(3) Members of the
advisory council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for
travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 while attending
meetings of the advisory committee, sessions of the economic climate council,
or on official business authorized by the council.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
5. Sections 1, 2, and 4 of
this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 82 RCW.
