Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government Committee

HB 2489

Brief Description:  Creating the Washington progress board.

Sponsors:  Representatives Miloscia, Schmidt, Romero, Upthegrove, Tokuda, McDermott, Dickerson, Linville and Haigh.

Brief Summary of Bill

Creates the Washington Progress Board to:

$develop and adopt a statewide strategy to address economic, social, cultural, environmental, and other concerns;

$develop goals with measurable indicators to indicate progress toward  meeting the strategy;

$adopt an implementation plan; and

$prepare a biennial report describing progress.

Hearing Date:  2/1/02

Staff:  Marsha Reilly (786‑7135).

Background:

A similar program exists in Oregon

Summary of Bill:

The Washington Progress Board (Board) is created.  The Board consists of the governor, nine members appointed by the governor, and the director of the Department of General Administration, as a nonvoting ex‑officio member.  Appointed members shall be representative of the state's ethnic, cultural, social, and economic background, and five of these members shall be residents of different congressional districts.  The appointed members serve four‑year terms and may be reappointed.  The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, Office of Community Development, serves as staff to the Board.

The Board will develop a statewide strategy that addresses the future economic, social, cultural, environmental, and other concerns of the citizens of the state including, but not limited to: 1) education and work force; 2) public and private cooperation; 3) environmental quality; 4) infrastructure; 5) funding and taxation; 6) organizational excellence; and 7) other issues the board adopts by a majority vote.

In developing the strategy, the Board will hold public hearings, public meetings, and workshops to ensure broad participation.  No later than December 1, 2008, the Board will forward its final strategy, along with a digest of comments and public testimony, to the Legislature.  The strategy will be updated every six years.

A series of goals with measurable indicators for Washington's progress for the next two to three decades will be included as part of the strategy.  The Legislature, shall approve the goals and may  modify, delete, or add to the goals.  The board may recommend to the Legislature modifications to the goals as appropriate.

The Board will adopt an implementation plan that contains recommendations for statutory or other appropriate changes, modifications in public fiscal and spending policies, including the allocation of lottery revenues, and actions to be carried out by local governments, businesses, private citizens, and other organizations.

At least once each biennium, the Board shall prepare a report describing progress toward achieving the strategy based on the specific indicators adopted for measuring attainment of strategic goals.  The report will also contain an analysis of significant issues and trends  and will propose an agenda identifying key steps the state should take for the following two years to build for Washington's future.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 27, 2002.

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