BILL REQ. #:  H-2840.1 

Read first time 03/25/09.   Referred to Committee on Community & Economic Development & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to a joint legislative task force on aerospace manufacturing; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the aerospace sector, as the state's largest manufacturing and exporting industry, has made a significant contribution to local, regional, state, and national economies. The legislature further finds that airports of regional significance in both eastern and western Washington have underutilized property and facilities that could become substantial tools for economic development. The legislature intends to examine and determine how untapped capacity at airports of regional significance can be used to expand manufacturing, research and development, education, and training for the aerospace industry.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1)(a) The joint legislative task force on aerospace manufacturing is established. The task force shall consist of the following voting members:
     (i) One member from each caucus of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, one of the members must be the chair of the economic development, trade and management committee, or its successor committee;
     (ii) One member from each caucus of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one of the members must be the chair of the community and economic development and trade committee, or its successor committee;
     (iii) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall jointly appoint:
     (A) Two members representing the aerospace manufacturing and services industry;
     (B) Two members representing airport owners and managers, one from eastern Washington and one from western Washington;
     (C) Two members representing four-year institutions of higher education and work force training at community and technical colleges;
     (D) Two members representing local government, one from eastern Washington and one from western Washington;
     (E) Two members from organized labor representing transportation and aerospace workers; and
     (F) One member representing the federal aviation administration.
     (b) In addition, the departments of transportation and community, trade, and economic development shall each maintain a liaison representative, who shall be a nonvoting member. The departments shall cooperate with the task force and provide information as the task force may reasonably request.
     (c) The task force shall choose bipartisan cochairs from among its legislative membership.
     (2) The task force shall review issues related to expanding the presence of aerospace manufacturing and associated research and development, education, and training businesses at airports of regional significance.
     (a) The task force must carry out its work in two phases. Phase one will begin with the effective date of this act, conclude by December 31, 2010, and cover the following areas:
     (i) The composition of the current aerospace manufacturing industry in Washington state;
     (ii) Significant trends that affect retention, expansion, and recruitment of companies in that industry; and
     (iii) Aerospace and nonaerospace businesses currently sited at airports of regional significance.
     (b) By December 31, 2010, the task force must report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on its phase one findings. The report must also include a proposed work plan for phase two and may include a request for state financial resources if needed to accomplish the proposed work plan.
     (c) Phase two will cover the following areas:
     (i) The inventory of untapped or underutilized capacity at airports of regional significance;
     (ii) Types of aerospace manufacturing and associated businesses that could be sited at airports of regional significance;
     (iii) Financial and technical resources that are available and those that would be needed; and
     (iv) Statutory and regulatory changes required to expand the presence of aerospace manufacturing and associated businesses at airports of regional significance.
     (d) By December 31, 2011, the task force must report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on its completed findings and recommendations.
     (3) The task force, where feasible, may consult with individuals from the public and private sector or ask such persons to establish an advisory committee. Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to expense reimbursement.
     (4)(a) The task force shall use legislative facilities, and staff support shall be provided by senate committee services and the house office of program research.
     (b) The task force may hire additional staff or contract with additional persons who have specific technical expertise if such expertise is necessary to carry out the mandates of the study. Such additional staff may be hired or a contract entered into only if an appropriation is specifically provided for the operations of the task force.
     (5) Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (6) The expenses of the task force shall be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house executive rules committee, or their successor committees.
     (7) This section expires June 30, 2012.