SSB 6330

SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 6330

As Passed Senate, February 13, 2006

Title: An act relating to the establishment of the Washington trade corps fellowship program.

Brief Description: Establishing the Washington trade corps fellowship program.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on International Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Senators Shin, Kastama, Sheldon, Rasmussen, Doumit, Weinstein, Fraser, Swecker, McAuliffe, Oke, Eide, Honeyford, Franklin, Mulliken, Prentice, Pflug, Kohl-Welles, Jacobsen and Roach).

Committee Activity: International Trade & Economic Development: 1/12/06, 1/24/06[DPS-WM].

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6330 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Shin, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Doumit, Eide, Roach and Zarelli.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6330 as recommended by Committee on International Trade & Economic Development be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Fairley, Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller and Thibaudeau.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senators Parlette and Schoesler.

Background: The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) is responsible for establishing and operating foreign offices promoting overseas trade and commerce. The department currently has overseas offices in China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Taiwan. The department does not have a program which places college and graduate students in its overseas offices.

Summary of Bill: The Washington Trade Corps Fellowship Program is created to enhance the work of Washington's trade offices and place up to five Washington college and graduate students per year in the offices as fellows. Applicants for the fellowships must be enrolled in a school offering a credential in a field that would prepare them for international work and be proficient in the language of the country where they are placed. Fellows are to serve from six to eighteen months and receive a stipend of at least ten thousand dollars plus living and travel expenses.

CTED is to appoint a committee to assist in evaluating applicants and selecting fellows. Assignments will be made in consultation with the fellow's college. Reports to the department will be required in addition to any requirements of the fellow's college. Post-fellowship employment with the department may be required.

Fellows are to follow U.S. travel advisories and the state and colleges are not liable for injuries caused by changes in the security status of placement countries.

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

Testimony For (International Trade & Economic Development): This is an innovative way to improve our state's international competitiveness. Enhancing state trade offices with interns would be valuable. Perhaps students could get credit while they are fellows. This has the possibility of becoming a superb training ground.

Testimony Against (International Trade & Economic Development): None.

Testimony Other: The department has a total budget of $780,000 for trade offices. It spends about $50,000 on the office in Mexico and $200,000 on the office in Japan.

Who Testified (International Trade & Economic Development): PRO: Debra Glassman, Greg Young, University of WA; Gill Stafford, Trade Development Alliance; Greg Scheiderer, Independent Colleges of WA.

OTHER: Larry Williams, Marie Sullivan, CTED.

Testimony For (Ways & Means): In a global society, understanding other countries' customs and culture is beneficial to our state.

House Amendment: The House amendment eliminates the creation of the Washington Trade Corps Fellowship Program. It directs CTED to research alternative funding sources for a fellowship program and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding starting and operating a program without the use of general fund monies.