SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5662

As Passed Senate, March 11, 2003

Title: An act relating to the community economic revitalization board.

Brief Description: Clarifying community economic revitalization board membership provisions.

Sponsors: Senators Hale, T. Sheldon and Schmidt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Economic Development: 2/12/03, 2/19/03 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/11/03, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators T. Sheldon, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Benton, Hale, Kohl-Welles; Rossi, Schmidt and Shin.

Staff: Jack Brummel (786-7428)

Background: The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) was created in 1982 to provide funding for publicly-owned economic development infrastructure. Through CERB, direct loans and grants are available to counties, cities, and special purpose districts for feasibility studies and for public improvements such as the acquisition, construction, or repair of water and sewer systems, bridges, railroad spurs, telecommunication systems, roads, structures, and port facilities. CERB funds are only made available if a specific private development or expansion is ready to occur and will occur only if the public improvements are made.

The board membership is made up of the chair and one minority member from each of the economic development committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives, in addition to 11 members appointed by the Governor and four ex-officio members. Legislative members may designate another member from their economic development committee to attend board meetings in their place.

Summary of Bill: The legislative membership of the board is one member from each of the two major caucuses of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislative members must be from the committees that deal with issues of economic development. Legislative members may designate another member from their economic development committee to attend board meetings in their place as long as that designated member belongs to the same caucus.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: The intent of the original legislation was to have a balance in party membership among legislative members. This will restore that.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Senator Hale, prime sponsor.

House Amendment(s): The House amendment removes the requirement that the senators or representatives appointed to serve on the Community Economic Revitalization Board also serve on a legislative committee that addresses economic development issues.