SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6314

As Passed Senate, February 13, 2004

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

Brief Description: Expanding membership on the community economic revitalization board.

Sponsors: Senators T. Sheldon, Hale, Kohl-Welles, Swecker, Eide, Thibaudeau, Finkbeiner, Brown, B. Sheldon, Shin, Franklin, Regala, Keiser, Doumit, Prentice, McAuliffe, Fraser, Kline, Winsley, Mulliken and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Economic Development: 1/21/04, 1/28/04 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/13/04, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators T. Sheldon, Chair; Benton, Kohl-Welles, Murray, 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 11 members appointed by the Governor, four nonvoting ex officio members, and one member from each of the two major caucuses in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In 2002, the Legislature added federally recognized Indian tribes to the list of eligible recipients of CERB funds.

Summary of Bill: One representative of a federally recognized Indian tribe is added to the list of those board members appointed by the Governor.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This is a logical next step in the integration of tribes into the CERB process. Tribes are eligible for CERB funds. It is appropriate to add a tribal representative to the board.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Tom McBride, CTED; Miland Walling, CERB; Michael Moran, Samish and Quileute Tribes; Ron Newbry, Washington Economic Dev. Assn.; Randy Scott, Colville Confederated Tribe, Quinault Nation.

House Amendment(s): References to federally recognized Indian tribes are added in the definition of "public facilities," the section of the CERB statute relating to grants, and the section relating to application for assistance from the economic development account.