BILL REQ. #:  H-1796.1 

Read first time 02/11/09.   Referred to Committee on Community & Economic Development & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to the Washington's economic gardening program; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.50 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The college board may develop criteria and provide oversight and policy guidance for an entrepreneurial program known as "Washington's economic gardening." The purpose of the program is to facilitate and coordinate a network of public and private resources to provide assistance, training, and mentoring to small and medium-sized businesses in Washington. The program may be newly developed or be part of an existing program.
     (2) A community college board of trustees may choose to host and/or participate in a Washington's economic gardening program. Each such community college program shall be governed by a board of directors, with membership as follows:
     (a) Representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, including their business associations, networks, or consortia, which representatives must comprise a majority of the board of directors;
     (b) At least one member representing the community college board of trustees;
     (c) At least one member representing labor unions or labor councils;
     (d) A representative of the state board for community and technical colleges; and
     (e) A representative of the workforce training and education coordinating board.
     (3) In furtherance of a community college's Washington's economic gardening program:
     (a) The community college board of trustees shall:
     (i) Serve as the convening organization to organize the program and provide for selection of a board of directors; and
     (ii) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated, or made available under (b) of this subsection, for this specific purpose, provide administrative support for the program;
     (b) With approval from the college board and the community college board of trustees, the board of directors may set fees to be charged for program services, make and execute contracts with any individual, corporation, association, public agency, or any other entity, and employ all other legal instruments necessary or convenient for the performance of its duties and the exercise of its powers and functions under the program; and
     (c) The college board may accept, use, and expend or dispose of fees and contributions of money, services, or property from federal, state, or local governments, private businesses, foundations, or other sources for purposes consistent with this section. All such moneys received by the college board for the program must be deposited in an account at a depository approved by the state treasurer. Only the college board or a duly authorized representative thereof may authorize expenditures for this account. The account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required to permit expenditure of moneys in the account.
     (4) A Washington's economic gardening program may:
     (a) Develop policies, plans, and programs for any or all of the following:
     (i) Assisting small and medium-sized Washington businesses to find appropriate resources for improving business management, product development, marketing and sales, strategic planning, and business financing;
     (ii) Developing training programs and career pathways that target innovative industries or technology fields; and
     (iii) Developing entrepreneurial training, for new and expanding small and medium-sized businesses, that may include but is not limited to classroom instruction, counseling and mentoring, and marketing laboratories on-site through the community college or off-site through community partnerships;
     (b) Collaborate with state and local governments, institutions of higher education, business organizations, economic development organizations, and organizations such as the Washington manufacturing services to integrate entrepreneurial resources for small and medium-sized businesses; and
     (c) Serve as an information clearinghouse for small and medium-sized businesses regarding opportunities available under the Washington's economic gardening program and other similar programs.
     (5) The college board must submit a progress report on the Washington's economic gardening program to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2010.