BILL REQ. #:  S-1692.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/20/03.   

     WHEREAS, Washington state trade missions involving elected state officials play a vital and important role in the state's economic development, promoting the growth of businesses and agriculture, and resulting in job creation; and
     WHEREAS, The participation of Washington state legislators in trade missions is crucial to the success of fostering strong relations with the state's trading partners and of creating new trade opportunities for businesses in Washington state; and
     WHEREAS, The participation of Washington state legislators in trade missions enables the legislature to craft legislation which better addresses trade and fosters better understanding between the people of Washington state and the people of other nations; and
     WHEREAS, The involvement of Washington state legislators in trade missions should be governed by protocols adopted by the legislature;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following protocols for legislative participation in executive agency trade missions be established; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That state trade missions will be initiated and organized by the executive of the agency, which includes the Office of the Governor; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the following protocol order of precedence will be established for executive agency trade missions:
     (1) Governor;
     (2) Lieutenant governor;
     (3) Secretary of state;
     (4) State treasurer;
     (5) State auditor;
     (6) Attorney general;
     (7) Superintendent of public instruction;
     (8) Commissioner of public lands;
     (9) Insurance commissioner;
     (10) Chief justice of the supreme court;
     (11) Former governors;
     (12) Justices of the supreme court;
     (13) Members of the executive cabinet:
          (a) Governor's special trade representative;
          (b) Director of trade and economic development;
          (c) Director of agriculture;
          (d) Other members of the governor's executive cabinet;
          (e) Chief of staff to the governor;
     (14) Speaker of the house of representatives;
     (15) President pro tempore of the senate;
     (16) Members of the senate;
     (17) Members of the house of representatives;
     (18) Former lieutenant governors;
     (19) Former secretaries of state; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the executive agency organizing the trade mission will inform both houses of the legislature of forthcoming missions in a timely manner. In its official notice to the legislature, the executive agency shall be responsible for providing the following information:
     (1) A statement of trade mission objectives, dates, and expected itinerary; and
     (2) A description of the type of knowledge, background, and experience held by a delegation member which might provide assistance to the trade mission; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the agency may request that one of the participating legislators serve as designated leader of the trade mission; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That at least one or more legislators from each caucus of the Senate and the House of Representatives may participate in the trade mission, depending on the size and scope of the mission. The agency will be notified of the legislative participants in a timely manner; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That whenever possible, legislators possessing business, foreign market, language, cultural expertise, or an interest pertinent to the trade mission are encouraged to participate; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That each legislative participant is responsible for assisting the trade mission achieve its stated goals and objectives; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the designated leader of the trade mission will work closely with agency staff to develop the trade mission protocols and responsibilities and define the working relationship with agency staff; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the registration fee charged to legislative participants, including their guests and legislative staff, does not exceed the actual costs associated with their participation in the trade mission; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That following completion of the trade mission, upon request, each legislative participant is encouraged to provide feedback concerning the mission and its results to the agency in a timely manner; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That nothing in this resolution precludes members of the legislature from participating in the mission.