BILL REQ. #:  H-4031.1 

Prefiled 01/08/10. Read first time 01/11/10.   Referred to Committee on Community & Economic Development & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to expanding small business development centers; and amending RCW 19.02.075, 19.02.080, and 28B.30.530.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 19.02.075 and 1995 c 403 s 1007 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall collect a fee of fifteen dollars on each master application. The entire master application fee shall be deposited in the master license fund.
     (2) The department shall collect a fee of nine dollars on each renewal application. Renewal application fees shall be deposited in the master license fund.
     (3) The department shall provide an opportunity for master business applicants to make a voluntary donation of two dollars at the time they submit initial and renewal applications. These voluntary donations must be deposited by the department in the business assistance account created in RCW 28B.30.531, and used by the small business development center administrator or the administrator's designee for business assistance purposes as provided in RCW 28B.30.530.

Sec. 2   RCW 19.02.080 and 1992 c 107 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     All fees and donations collected under the system shall be deposited with the state treasurer. Upon issuance or renewal of the master license or supplemental licenses, the department shall distribute the fees, except for fees covered under RCW 19.02.210 ((and)), for fees covered under RCW 19.80.075, and for donations collected under RCW 19.02.075(3), to the appropriate accounts under the applicable statutes for those agencies' licenses.

Sec. 3   RCW 28B.30.530 and 2009 c 486 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board of regents of Washington State University shall establish the Washington State University small business development center.
     (2) The center shall provide management and technical assistance including but not limited to training, counseling, and research services to small businesses throughout the state. The center shall work with the department of ((community, trade, and economic development)) commerce, the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, the workforce training and education coordinating board, the employment security department, the Washington state economic development commission, associate development organizations, and workforce development councils to:
     (a) Integrate small business development centers with other state and local economic development and workforce development programs;
     (b) Target the centers' services to small businesses;
     (c) Tailor outreach and services at each center to the needs and demographics of entrepreneurs and small businesses located within the service area;
     (d) Establish and expand small business development center satellite offices when financially feasible; and
     (e) Coordinate delivery of services to avoid duplication.
     (3) The administrator of the center may contract with other public or private entities for the provision of specialized services.
     (4) The small business development center may accept and disburse federal grants or federal matching funds or other funds or donations from any source when made, granted, or donated to carry out the center's purposes. When drawing on funds from the business assistance account created in RCW ((30.60.010)) 28B.30.531, the center must first use the funds to make increased management and technical assistance available to existing small businesses and start-up businesses at satellite offices. The funds may also be used to develop and expand assistance programs such as small business planning workshops and small business counseling.
     (5) The legislature directs the small business development center to request United States small business administration approval of a special emphasis initiative, as permitted under 13 C.F.R. 130.340(c) as of April 1, 2009, to target assistance to Washington state's smaller businesses. This initiative would be negotiated and included in the first cooperative agreement application process that occurs after July 26, 2009.
     (6) By December 1, 2009, and December 1, 2010, respectively, the center shall provide a written progress report and a final report to the appropriate committees of the legislature with respect to the requirements in subsections (2) and (5) of this section and the amount and use of funding received through the business assistance account. The reports must also include data on the number, location, staffing, and budget levels of satellite offices; affiliations with community colleges, associate development organizations or other local organizations; the number, size, and type of small businesses assisted; and the types of services provided. The reports must also include information on the outcomes achieved, such as jobs created or retained, private capital invested, and return on the investment of state and federal dollars.