Title: An act relating to establishing the Washington state economic development commission to replace the governor's small business improvement council.

Sponsors: Representatives Skinner, Veloria, Sehlin, Pettigrew, McDonald, Schual-Berke, McCoy, McDermott, Linville, Upthegrove and Conway.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

• Eliminates the Governor's Small Business Improvement Council.

• Creates, in statute, the Governor's Economic Development Commission.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Veloria, Chair; Skinner, Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chase, Condotta, Kristiansen, Pettigrew and Priest.

The Governor's Small Business Improvement Council was created in 1984. The council ranges in size between 15 and 30 members and includes legislators, members of business organizations and small business owners. Ex officio members representing key state agencies are also included.

The focus of the Governor's Small Business Improvement Council is to identify regulatory, administrative and legislative proposals that will improve the entrepreneurial environment for small businesses as well as advise and comment on state business programs.

In September 2002, Governor Locke created a state Economic Development Commission (Commission) to help guide Washington's economic development policy and provide continuity to the state's economic strategy. The Commission was formed on the recommendation of Governor Locke's Competitiveness Council.

The Commission has 14 business leaders from across the state and a representative from the labor community. The Commission is to provide policy oversight and long-term guidance on issues directly related to the state's economy to the Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development (DCTED). The Governor directed the Commission to review and update current economic development strategy and performance measures, and perform an annual evaluation, as well as assisting the DCTED on the procurement and deployment of private funds for business development, recruitment and promotion. The Commission is also to solicit ideas from citizens around the state.

The Commission shall consist of nine to 15 members, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor must consult organizations with an interest in economic development in making the appointments. Commission members must have representation from eastern Washington, central Washington, southwest Washington, the Peninsula, Central Puget Sound and Northern Puget Sound and reflect the state's various business sectors. At least seven members must be selected from private businesses within Washington. The Governor should also consider ethnic and gender diversity when making appointments.

Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor for six-year terms. The initial Commission members' terms are staggered: three are appointed for two-year terms, three are appointed for four-year terms and the remainder serve the full six years. A member cannot serve more than one year without Senate confirmation.

The duties of the Commission include: reviewing and periodically updating the state's economic development strategy and performance measures as well as annually evaluating the strategy; providing policy direction to DCTED; assisting DCTED with procurement and deployment of private funds for business development, recruitment and promotion; and providing planning, strategic and programmatic direction to the DCTED.

The substitute bill directs the Governor to consult organizations with an interest in economic development in making the appointments. Commission members must have representation from eastern Washington, central Washington, southwest Washington, the Peninsula, Central Puget Sound and Northern Puget Sound and reflect the state's various business sectors. At least seven members must be selected from private businesses within Washington State. The Governor must also consider ethnic and gender diversity when making appointments.

The substitute bill prohibits a member from serving more than one year without Senate confirmation. The Commission members will serve six-year terms, not four-year terms as in the original bill. The initial Commission members' terms are staggered: three are appointed for two-year terms, three are appointed for four-year terms and the remainder serve the full six years.

Unlike the original bill, the substitute bill provides that the members will serve without travel reimbursement.

Under the substitute bill, the Commission will provide policy and programmatic direction, not advice, to the DCTED.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: It is important to create a permanent Economic Development Commission. Washington needs continuity and stability in order to develop a comprehensive economic development plan. The Washington Roundtable Report recommended a permanent commission as did the Governor's Competitiveness Council. The current group, appointed by the Governor, has held several meetings. If a critical issue arises, a permanent Economic Development Commission can amass resources and stakeholders to address the issue. Chicago was able to do this when Boeing was deciding where to relocate.

Testified: Collins Sprague, AVISTA Corporation; Sheila Martin, Governors Policy Officer; and Dawn Mason.