SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1888

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Commerce & Labor, April 3, 1997

Title:  An act relating to the executive‑legislative task force on international trade.

Brief Description:  Creating the executive‑legislative task force on international trade.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Van Luven, Veloria, Dunn, McDonald, Alexander, Ballasiotes, Sheldon, Morris, Mason, Kastama, Wensman, Wolfe, Doumit, Hatfield, Thompson, Butler, Chandler, Kessler, Dickerson, Constantine, Ogden, Conway, Costa, Cole and O'Brien).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce & Labor:  3/31/97, 4/3/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Schow, Chair; Horn, Vice Chair; Anderson, Franklin, Fraser, Heavey and Newhouse.

Staff:  Aurora Almeda (786-7488)

Background:  Washington=s international trade programs are administered by the Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development and the Washington State Department of Agriculture.  These state agencies administer programs that focus on improving the competitive position of key industries and firms in the domestic and international marketplace.  This is accomplished by linking the efforts of trade and industry specialists, providing technical staff to assist Washington=s small- and medium-sized firms develop and expand markets for their products, and maintaining information on potential international trade opportunities through the state=s foreign trade offices.

Summary of Bill:  The Executive-Legislative Task Force on International Trade (task force) is created.  The task force consists of 22 members with representation from the public and private sectors.  The task force members include (1) the Governor; (2)  five members of the Legislature, three from the House of Representatives, including the chair of the House Committee on Trade and Economic Development, and two from the Senate; (3) four representatives from businesses involved in international trade; (4) two representatives of organized labor; (5) two representatives from public ports; (6) two representatives from local economic development organizations; (7) two representatives from cities with a population of at least 175,000 and that have a public port; and (8) one representative at large; the directors of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development and the Washington State Department of Agriculture serve as ex-oficio members; and (9) the Secretary of State.

The Governor appoints the nonlegislative members of the task force.  The Governor serves as chair of the task force.  The chair of the House Committee on Trade and Economic Development serves as the vice chair of the task force.

The task force is authorized to (1) review existing state programs and incentives designed to encourage trade opportunities; (2) review the state=s organizational structure for trade-related functions; (3) review trade promotion programs, organizational structure, and efforts in other states and countries; (4) make recommendations on the state=s trade related functions, including the state's role in promoting trade and the appropriate organizational structure of the state=s trade programs and incentives; and (5) prepare and submit a report to the Governor and appropriate legislative committees with its findings and recommendations by January 30, 1998.

The Governor=s office and the Legislature provide administrative and clerical assistance to the task force.

The task force may accept gifts, grants, or endowments from public and private sources to be used for the purposes of the task force.  The task force expires March 1, 1998.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.