BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the executive-legislative task force on international trade; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that international trade is vital to the economy of the state of Washington. The state of Washington is the fifth largest exporting state in the United States, after California, Texas, New York, and Michigan respectively.

The legislature further finds that this state's international business relationships are comprised of three interrelated categories: Two-way trade, investment, and tourism. In 1994, Washington's two-way trade totaled $75.4 billion, with exports at $32.3 billion of the total. In 1992, investors from twenty foreign countries owned approximately two hundred seventy-five businesses in the state of Washington, employing an estimated twenty-five thousand three hundred fifty-five persons state-wide. In 1994, approximately two million three hundred thousand international travelers visited the state of Washington. It is now estimated that one in five jobs in the state of Washington is related to international trade.

The legislature further finds that international trade opportunities are substantial in both established markets like Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, and new, growing markets like China, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and the Russian Far East.

The legislature further finds that there is a need to evaluate the state's role in the promotion of international trade. A unique partnership between the public and private sector can attract increased international trade opportunities and encourage investment in the state of Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) There is created the executive-legislative task force on international trade to consist of nineteen members.

(a) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(i) The governor, who shall serve as chair;

(ii) Two representatives from the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house, one from each political party;

(iii) Two representatives from the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, one from each political party;

(iv) Four representatives of businesses involved in international trade, one representative shall be from a business with less than fifty employees, one representative shall be from businesses with less than five hundred employees, and two representatives shall be from businesses with more than five hundred employees;

(v) Three representatives of labor;

(vi) Two representatives of the Washington public ports association, one representative shall be from a port that is located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains;

(vii) Two representatives of local economic development organizations, one representative shall be from an organization that is located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains; and

(viii) One representative at large.

(b) The following two members shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members:

(i) The director of the department of community, trade, and economic development; and

(ii) The director of the Washington state department of agriculture.

(2) The governor shall appoint all nonlegislative members to the executive-legislative task force on international trade. The chair of the committee on trade and economic development of the house of representatives shall serve as vice-chair of the executive-legislative task force on international trade. The nonlegislative members of the executive-legislative task force on international trade shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members of the executive-legislative task force on international trade shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 44.04.120.

(3) The executive-legislative task force on international trade shall meet regularly and may appoint technical advisory committees, which may include members of the executive-legislative task force on international trade, as needed to address specific issues and concerns.

(4) The department of community, trade, and economic development, in conjunction with the Washington state department of agriculture and the legislature, shall supply such information and assistance as is deemed necessary for the executive-legislative task force on international trade to carry out its duties under section 3 of this act.

(5) The office of the governor and the legislature shall provide administrative and clerical assistance to the executive-legislative task force on international trade.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The executive-legislative task force on international trade shall:

(1) Review existing state programs and incentives designed to encourage international trade and domestic trade opportunities;

(2) Review the existing state organizational structure for international trade and trade-related functions;

(3) Review international trade promotion programs, organizational structures, and efforts in selected states and countries;

(4) Make recommendations on the state's international trade and trade-related functions including, but not limited to:

(a) The role of the state in promoting international trade;

(b) The appropriate organizational structure of the state's international trade and trade-related programs and incentives;

(d) The role of the state's foreign trade offices in international trade;

(e) The role of the legislature in international trade;

(f) The need for a comprehensive and coordinated state international trade policy; and

(g) Other issues the task force deems appropriate; and

(5) Prepare and submit to the governor and the appropriate policy committees of the house of representatives and the senate, by January 30, 1998, a report detailing its findings and recommendations regarding specific programs, organizational, legislative, and funding issues, and any other recommendations it deems appropriate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The executive-legislative task force on international trade may receive gifts, grants, or endowments from public and private sources that are made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the executive-legislative task force on international trade and spend gifts, grants, or endowments or income from the public or private sources according to their terms, unless the receipt of the gifts, grants, or endowments violates RCW 42.17.710.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act expires March 1, 1998.