Brief Description: Providing for the role of the economic development commission in state government.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Kastama, Zarelli, Kilmer, Clements, Kauffman, Shin, Pridemore, Regala, Fairley, Brown, Jacobsen and Rasmussen).

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Management
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Community & Economic Development & Trade
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: The Legislature established the Economic Development Commission in 2003 with the stated intent to have it develop and update the state's economic development strategy and performance measures and provide advice to and oversight of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED).

Summary: It is the intent of the Legislature to create an economic development commission to provide planning, coordination, evaluation, monitoring, and policy analysis and development for the state economic development system as a whole.

The Washington State Economic Development Commission is to consist of 11 voting members and as ex officio non-voting members: the Director of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development; the Director of the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board; the Commissioner of the Department of Employment Security; and the chairs and ranking minority members of the House and Senate economic development committees. The Executive Director of the commission is to serve as chief executive officer and is to employ such personnel as are necessary and use staff of existing operating agencies.

The commission is to develop and maintain a state comprehensive plan for economic development and review the state system for consistency with the plan; the plan is to be updated every two years. The commission is to establish and maintain an inventory of economic development programs, perform a biennial assessment of the economic development needs of the state, and assess whether the economic development system and programs are consistent, coordinated, and integrated. The commission is also to establish standards for data collection and program evaluation; administer scientifically-based outcome evaluations of the state economic development system; report to the Governor and the Legislature every two years on its progress; and make recommendations for statutory changes as needed.

The commission may review policies, plans, budget requests, and legislative proposals for consistency with the state comprehensive plan for economic development; provide for coordination at the state and regional level; and advocate for the state economic development system. The commission is to review the appropriate state role in economic development and the appropriate administrative and regional structure for the provision of economic development services by September 1, 2008. The Economic Climate Council is to consult with the commission when selecting economic benchmarks and the commission is to involve the public in the selection of benchmarks.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      49   0
House      95   0   (House amended)
Senate      48   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   July 22, 2007