BILL REQ. #: H-3990.1
| State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2004 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/22/2004. Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
AN ACT Relating to the creation of a center for advanced manufacturing; adding new sections to chapter 43.31 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 Although manufacturing has long been subject
to the ups and downs of regular market cycles, the increasing pace of
globalization and the ability of the world's new manufacturing floor to
export deflation has caused United States manufacturers to lose all
pricing power. Despite the development of good cost control practices
such as lean manufacturing, domestic manufacturers cannot compete on
price alone.
As our economy continues to evolve through changes to our existing
manufacturing base, our manufacturers need assistance to continue to
provide high quality products at a low cost. In order to make a
radical change to an innovation focus, there must be a public and
private partnership.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) A center for advanced manufacturing is created to provide
ongoing training, curriculum, and courses to develop a skilled work
force, with a focus on quality efficiency practices.
(2) The center for advanced manufacturing shall be administered by
the department of community, trade, and economic development.
(3)(a) The center for advanced manufacturing shall provide training
and innovation for the manufacturing industry in Washington. The
center for advanced manufacturing could offer:
(i) A research institution to transfer technology for commercial
applications in small and mid-market manufacturers;
(ii) A clearinghouse and national research library that locates
best practices information, disseminates national research, and
provides a publicly accessible research library; and
(iii) On-going training, and curriculum and courses to develop a
skilled work force, with a focus on quality efficiency practices.
(b) The center for advanced manufacturing shall coordinate with the
Washington technology center and related programs at Washington's
institutions of higher education.
(4) The department may create an advisory board composed of up to
twelve members that may include representatives of the community and
technical colleges, local governments, federal government, labor, and
business.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW
to read as follows:
The center for advanced manufacturing may receive gifts, grants, or
endowments from public or private sources that are made from time to
time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of
the center and spend gifts, grants, or endowments or income from the
public or private sources according to their terms, unless the receipt
of gifts, grants, or endowments violates RCW 42.17.710.