BP BHEAD INT H [Atlas:Generic]

AN ACT Relating to funding for minority and women business development; amending RCW 43.31.0925, 43.31.093, 43.172.040, and 43.172.050; and making appropriations.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 43.31.0925 and 1993 c 512 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

There is established within the ((~~department's business assistance center~~)) department of community, trade, and economic development the minority and women business development office. This office shall provide business-related assistance to minorities and women as well as serve as an outreach program to increase minority and women-owned businesses' awareness and use of existing business assistance services.

Sec. 2. RCW 43.31.093 and 1995 c 399 s 71 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of community, trade, and economic development shall contract with public and private agencies, institutions, and organizations to conduct entrepreneurial training courses for minority and women-owned small businesses. The instruction shall be intensive, practical training courses in financing, marketing, managing, accounting, and recordkeeping for a small business, with an emphasis on federal, state, local, or private programs available to assist small businesses. The ((~~business assistance center~~)) department of community, trade, and economic development may recommend professional instructors, with practical knowledge and experience on how to start and operate a business, to teach the courses. Instruction shall be offered in major population centers throughout the state at times and locations which are convenient for minority and women small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.172.040 and 1993 c 512 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

The ((~~business assistance center~~)) department shall modify the entrepreneurial training course established in RCW 43.31.093 in order to provide instruction which is appropriate to the specific needs of contracting businesses. This course of instruction shall be available to resident minority and women-owned small business contractors. The instruction shall be intensive, practical training courses in financing, bidding for contracts, managing, accounting, and recordkeeping for a contracting business, with an emphasis on federal, state, local, or private programs available to assist small contractors. The ((~~business assistance center~~)) department shall appoint professional instructors, with practical knowledge and experience in the field of small business contracting, to teach those courses developed to meet the specific needs of contracting businesses. Instruction shall be offered in major population centers throughout the state at times and locations which are convenient for people in the contracting business.

Sec. 4. RCW 43.172.050 and 1993 c 512 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:

Any resident minority or women-owned small business contractor may select a key management employee or employees to attend any course of instruction established under RCW 43.31.093. When the records, maintained by the ((~~business assistance center~~)) department, indicate that a key management employee of a small contracting business has attended all the courses offered, and has successfully completed any tests required, the department shall award the small contracting business a certificate of accreditation which acknowledges successful completion of the courses. The department may also award a certificate of accreditation if a review of the key management employee's education, experience, and business history indicates that the business already possesses the knowledge and skills offered through the course of instruction, or if the key management employee successfully completes all tests required of those who attend the entrepreneurial training course.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of one hundred forty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the purposes of the minority and women business development office established under RCW 43.31.0925.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of one hundred forty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the purposes of the minority and women business development office established under RCW 43.31.0925.