BILL REQ. #:  H-4648.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/06/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to investing in Washington businesses; adding a new section to chapter 43.33A RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that Washington is the home to entrepreneurs and innovative technologies. The legislature further finds that the availability of private equity for the start-up and subsequent expansion of new businesses is critical to the continued growth and development of Washington's economy. The legislature also finds that investment in Washington firms would help accelerate economic growth and increase the tax base. The legislature finds that pension funds managed by the Washington state investment board constitute a major financial resource of the state, and that such funds may be prudently invested in start-up and emerging growth businesses in this state under policies established by the Washington state investment board. The legislature further finds that the goals of maximizing investment returns, prudent levels of risk, fulfilling fiduciary duties, ensuring adequate investment diversification, promoting job creation, and strengthening the state's economy are compatible and mutually beneficial. Therefore, the legislature declares that the state investment board should sustain a level of capital investment in Washington companies to foster economic growth and the growth of the state employee's pension portfolio.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.33A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In making and implementing investment decisions related to private equity, the state investment board, its executive officer, and the board's investment designees under RCW 43.33A.035 have a duty to look first at Washington opportunities for diversification unless, under the circumstances, it is not prudent to do so. This includes, but is not limited to, providing seed capital to start-up or emerging businesses or placing money with Washington private equity firms for investment by the private equity firms in Washington start-up and emerging businesses.
     (2) The state investment board shall report biennially to the legislative fiscal and economic development committees on the implementation of this section and its impact on the economic development of this state. The first report shall be delivered December 1, 2004.
     (3) As used in this section:
     (a) "Emerging business" means a new or small company that has the capacity, upon obtaining the appropriate capital, to generate significant high skill, high wage employment.
     (b) "Private equity" means equity financing that is provided for starting up, expanding, or relocating a company, or related purposes such as financing for seed capital, research and development, introduction of a product or process into the marketplace, or similar needs requiring risk capital.
     (c) "Seed capital" means financing that is provided for the initial phases of development, refinement or commercialization of a product, process, or innovation, including but not limited to facilitating technology transfers related to academic research, discoveries, or developments for the purpose of commercialization of a product, process, or innovation.
     (d) "Start-up business" means a business in the act or instance of being set in operation around a technology, product, or service based on a sound business plan.
     (e) "Washington private equity firm" means an entity that has a majority of its employees in this state or that has at least one managing partner domiciled in this state that has made significant capital investment in Washington companies and that provides equity financing for starting up or expanding a company, or related purposes such as financing for seed capital, research and development, introduction of a product or process into the marketplace, or similar needs requiring risk capital.