Background:

In 2002 Governor Locke created the Washington Economic Development Commission (Commission) through executive order as a means for business and labor leaders to assist in the improvement and development of the state's economy. The following year, the Legislature established the Commission in statute as an advisory body to the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED). In 2007 the Legislature revised the statutory structure, policy role and responsibilities of the Commission.

Commission Purpose, Membership, and Staff

The Commission is established to oversee the economic development strategies and policies of the DCTED.

The Commission has 18 members in total. Eleven are voting members appointed by the Governor to three-year terms, including: six members from the private sector; one from labor; one from port districts; one from state public higher education; one from state community or technical colleges; and, one from associate development organizations (ADOs). Seven are ex- officio, nonvoting members including the director or commissioner of the Department of Commerce, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, the Employment Security Department, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the standing economic development committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Commission's chair is a voting member selected by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. The Commission's executive director is appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Commission's voting members and must administer the provisions of the law, employ necessary personnel, use existing operating agency staff to the fullest extent possible, employ outside consulting agencies as appropriate, and exercise additional powers when delegated by the Commission. The executive director may not chair the Commission.

Commission Duties

The Commission must concentrate its major efforts on planning, coordination, evaluation, policy analysis, and recommending improvements to the state's economic development system (State E.D. System). The Commission must:

Develop and maintain a biennial state comprehensive plan for economic development;
Identify the elements ADOs must include in their countywide economic development plans;
Review the State E.D. System for consistency with the state comprehensive plan;
Maintain an inventory of State E.D. System programs;
Assess the state's economic development needs and evaluate the approach of the State E.D. System and programs to meeting the needs;
Beginning by January 2012, administer scientifically-based outcome evaluations of the State E.D. System;
Report on: the appropriate state role in economic development, the appropriate administrative regional structure for economic development services, the Commission's progress coordinating the State E.D. System, and recommended statutory changes to enhance efficiency and coordination.

Commission Authority, Subject to Available Resources

The Commission may:

Review the policies and plans established for business and technical assistance, export assistance, and infrastructure development;
Review and make recommendations on budget requests and legislative proposals relating to the State E.D. System;
Provide for coordination among agencies, organizations and components of the system at the state and regional levels;
Advocate for the state economic development system and for meeting the needs of industry associations, industry clusters, businesses, and employees;
By January 2011, create a plan to develop a database on participation rates, costs, program activities, and outcomes from publicly-funded economic development programs; and,
Evaluate proposals and recommend expenditures from the Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account.

Summary of Bill:

Commission Purpose, Membership and Staff

The Commission is established to assist the Governor and Legislature by providing leadership, direction, and guidance on a long-term and systematic approach to economic development.

The Commission's mission is to create and regularly update a comprehensive statewide economic development strategy to guide the state's investments in economic development activities including infrastructure, talent and workforce development, technology transfer, trade, access to capital and entrepreneurship.

The Commission's total membership is increased to 21. The additional three members include two representatives of the private sector and one representative of nonprofit trade associations engaged in economic development. All Commission members, appointed and ex-officio will be voting members. Commission members may not designate alternates, substitutes or surrogates; however, member participation in meetings by teleconference-type communications equipment constitutes presence at the meeting. In appointing Commission members, the Governor must consult with the Commission. Demonstrated experience in the area of innovation is added as a qualification for Commission membership. Provisions related to term limits, staggered terms, and vacancies are included. The Commission chair will be elected by Commission members to a two year term and may be re-elected to additional terms. The chair may not be an agency director or legislator. A vice-chair will also be elected by Commission members.

The executive director will carry out duties, including hiring exempt and civil service employees and contracting out for technical expertise, subject to available resources and in accordance with Commission direction. Roles and responsibilities related to budgets, work plans, and fiscal reports are added. The executive director must report on Commission operational matters solely to the Governor and the Commission.

Commission Duties

The Commission must concentrate its major efforts on strategic planning, policy research and analysis, advocacy, and evaluation. "Coordination" as a major area of Commission effort is removed, as is the detailed list of Commission duties.

Instead, the Commission is directed to follow a general timeline and process for developing a biennial comprehensive statewide economic development strategy and annual updates. The strategy may include components such as: an assessment of the state's economic vitality; a common set of outcomes and benchmarks; and recommendations for expanding, discontinuing, redirecting, or adding programs. The Commission must consult and coordinate with relevant organizations to avoid duplication of effort. State agencies must provide information to the Commission as it reasonably requests.

The Commission and the Department of Commerce must jointly develop a memorandum of understanding to establish clear lines of authority and responsibility between them related to budget and administrative services. The Commission must develop a biennial budget request for OFM approval, the Department of Commerce must forward the request along with its budget package, and the Commission must adopt an annual budget and work plan consistent with the legislatively-approved budget. A Commission Account is created in the State Treasury into which gifts, grants, and other contributions from public or private sources must be deposited. Subject to appropriation, expenditures may be used by the Commission only for purposes consistent with its mission, roles and responsibilities.

The Commission must not take an administrative role in service delivery but may conduct outreach activities such as regional forums and seminars. The Commission must evaluate its own performance regularly.

Commission Authority, Subject to Available Resources

Subject to available resources, the Governor or Legislature may direct the Commission to undertake research and policy analysis, assessments or special projects.