SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1474

 

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, February 25, 2002

 

Title:  An act relating to splitting the department of community, trade, and economic development and reestablishing the department of community development and the department of trade and economic development.

 

Brief Description:  Splitting the department of community, trade, and economic development and reestablishing the department of community development and the department of trade and economic development.

 

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Van Luven, Veloria, Fromhold, Dunn, Eickmeyer, Kessler, Kenney, Schmidt, Edmonds, Ogden and Santos; by request of Governor Locke).

 

Brief History: 

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/25/02 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Haugen, Keiser, Kline, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

 

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

 

Background:  The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development was created in 1993 by dissolving the Department of Community Development and the Department of Trade and Economic Development and transferring their responsibilities and authorities to that newly created department.

 

The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development is responsible for assisting in community and economic development; providing technical and financial assistance to local governments, businesses, and community-based organizations; soliciting private and federal grants for economic and community development programs; and conducting research and analysis to support economic and community development efforts.

 

Summary of Bill:  The purpose of the act is to effectively organize state efforts to address the community and economic development needs of the citizens by restructuring the Department of  Community, Trade, and Economic Development (DCTED) into two separate agencies, the Department of Community Development and the Department of Trade and Economic Development.

 

The Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) consists of the existing divisions of economic development, energy policy, and international trade.  The Department of Community Development (DCD) consists of the existing divisions of housing, community services, and local government.

 

The declared intention is that the restructuring allows each agency to:  (1) identify and develop a focused mission; (2) organize and deliver services in a manner that is responsive to current and future needs; and (3) effectively target resources to meet the identified mission and needs of the citizens of the state of Washington in the most efficient and effective manner.

 

The director of DTED is authorized to enter into an interagency agreement with DCD to appoint an employee of that agency as the director's designee to the Forest Practices Board.  The interagency agreement expires upon the adoption of permanent rules relating to forest  practices and the protection of aquatic resources.

 

The following references or programs are decodified or repealed:  obsolete references on child care and residential care facilities; Clean Washington Center; and the Investment Opportunities Office.

 

The directors of DCD and DTED may not reduce pass-through monies to other entities to pay for the cost of splitting the existing DCTED into the DCD and DTED.  This provision expires July 1, 2003.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 2002.

 

Testimony For:  None.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  No one.