H-2595.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1283

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By House Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Mason, Van Luven, Veloria, Ballasiotes, Costa, Morris, Wood, Tokuda, Kessler, Scott and Blalock)

Read first time 03/05/97.

Providing funding for business and economic development programs.

    AN ACT Relating to funding for business and economic development programs; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that there is a need to increase economic opportunity in economically distressed communities.  The legislature further finds that efforts to increase economic opportunity in economically distressed communities must involve a collaborative effort between community and business development agencies, individual businesses, financial institutions, public sector agencies, institutions of higher education, and community residents.  It is the intent of the legislature to support institutions of higher education in the establishment of collaborative efforts to increase economic opportunity in economically distressed communities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) The University of Washington and Washington State University shall conduct a study to:

    (a) Analyze the impact of their current economic and business development programs and initiatives on economically distressed communities;

    (b) Analyze the economic impacts of their business development and technology transfer programs on creating economic opportunities for African-American, Asian-American, Native American, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic-American residents of Washington; and

    (c) Propose changes and additions to existing economic and business development programs to better serve economically distressed communities and women and minority individuals and business owners.

    (2)(a) The University of Washington and Washington State University each shall form an advisory group comprised of representatives from community-based organizations in distressed communities, small business owners, financial institutions, insurance companies, local government, and other interested groups.

    (b) The advisory group created in this section shall be responsible for the review of the data found under subsection (1) of this section.

    (3) All administrative and clerical staffing for the task force shall be provided by the University of Washington and Washington State University.

    (4) By October 15, 1997, the University of Washington and Washington State University shall submit their report with findings and recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees of the house of representatives and the senate.

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