BILL REQ. #:  H-4355.1 

Read first time 01/25/2006.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to the establishment of the Washington trade corps fellowship program; adding new sections to chapter 43.31 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The Washington trade corps fellowship program is established in the department of community, trade, and economic development. The purpose of the program is to promote international trade and enhance the work of Washington's trade offices. The program will award fellowships to students who have shown significant interest in pursuing a career in international trade and place them in trade offices. The fellows will be expected to learn the practice of trade promotion and fulfill the mission of the offices to promote overseas trade and commerce.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to sections 1 through 7 of this act.
     (1) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.
     (2) "Fellow" means the recipient of a Washington trade corps fellowship award.
     (3) "Institution" means an accredited public or private university or college within the state of Washington.
     (4) "Trade office" means an office located outside the United States operated or contracted by the department of community, trade, and economic development or the department of agriculture for the purpose of promoting overseas trade and commerce.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Candidates for the fellowship must be:
     (a) A resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012;
     (b) Enrolled in an institution's program offering a degree or credential in international trade, international relations, international business, or a related area;
     (c) Proficient in the language common to the area in which they will be placed.
     (2) The department may require that fellowship candidates intern with the department prior to final selection. The department may impose additional requirements as necessary to facilitate the efficient operation of its trade offices.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A fellowship shall be available for no more than five persons per year. Fellows shall serve a minimum of six months and may serve a maximum of eighteen months. Fellows shall be compensated with a stipend of no less than ten thousand dollars. Fellows shall be provided living and travel expenses while overseas, but the total cost provided by the department per fellow, per year, shall not exceed sixty percent of the state's average yearly wage, or twenty-five thousand dollars, whichever is greater.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The department shall appoint a committee to assist it in evaluating and selecting applicants for the fellowships. At least three of the committee members shall be members of organizations concerned with international trade; at least one shall be from a statewide organization; and at least two shall represent regional organizations from different regions of the state. At least three of the committee members shall be from institutions and have expertise in international trade. The decision of the department in selecting fellows is final.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The department shall assign fellows to trade offices in consultation with each fellow's institution. No more than two fellows shall be assigned to any trade office at one time.
     (2) The department shall establish reporting requirements which the fellows must meet. The department's reporting requirements may include research of value to the department's international trade staff or to trade promotion groups in the state and may be in conjunction with or in addition to any requirements of the institution.
     (3) The department may require that the fellow enter into postfellowship employment with the department for one year and may require that some or all of the fellowship costs be repaid if the postfellowship employment requirement is not met.
     (4) The department shall report to the legislature on the Washington trade corps fellowship program by December 1, 2006, and by December 1st of every other year thereafter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   Neither the department, the institution, nor any other division of the state is liable for injuries caused by a change in the security situation of the country in which a fellow is stationed. Fellows shall follow all travel advisories published by the United States department of state for the country in which they are stationed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   The department of community, trade, and economic development shall make rules necessary to implement this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   Sections 1 through 7 of this act are each added to chapter 43.31 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2006, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.