BILL REQ. #:  S-4050.1 

Read first time 01/22/10.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to the establishment of the Washington trade corps fellowship program; adding new sections to chapter 43.31 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The Washington trade corps fellowship program is established at the University of Washington center for international business education and research to promote international trade and award fellowships to students who have shown significant interest in pursuing a career in international trade.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to sections 1 through 7 of this act.
     (1) "Center" means the center for international business education and research at the University of Washington.
     (2) "Department" means the department of commerce or the department of agriculture.
     (3) "Fellow" means the recipient of a Washington trade corps fellowship award.
     (4) "Institution" means an accredited public or private university or college within the state of Washington.
     (5) "Trade office" means an office located outside the United States operated by a private company to promote its products or services; or funded by the department of commerce or the department of agriculture for the purpose of promoting overseas trade and commerce.
     (6) "Trading company" means a private company operating in the state with at least one trade office.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Candidates for the fellowship must be:
     (a) A resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012;
     (b) Enrolled in an institution's program offering a degree or credential in international trade, international relations, international business, or a related area;
     (c) Proficient in the language common to the area in which they will be placed.
     (2) The center may require that fellowship candidates intern in the state with a trading company or a department prior to final selection. The department may impose additional requirements as necessary to facilitate the efficient operation of its trade offices.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A fellowship must be available for no more than fifteen persons per year. Fellows shall serve a minimum of six months and may serve a maximum of eighteen months. Fellows shall be compensated with a stipend of no less than ten thousand dollars. Fellows shall be provided living and travel expenses while overseas, but the total cost provided by the center per fellow, per year, must not exceed sixty percent of the state's average yearly wage, or twenty-five thousand dollars, whichever is greater. Institutions are encouraged to and may provide students with college credit for serving as a fellow. The center shall seek matching funds from trading companies.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The center shall appoint a committee to assist it in evaluating and selecting applicants for the fellowships. At least three of the committee members must be members of organizations concerned with international trade; at least one must be from a statewide organization; and at least two must represent regional organizations from different regions of the state. At least three of the committee members must be from institutions and have expertise in international trade. The decision of the center in selecting fellows is final.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The center shall assign fellows to trade offices in consultation with each fellow's institution. A placement in a department's trade office will be made with the approval of the department. No more than two fellows shall be assigned to any trade office at one time.
     (2) The center shall establish reporting requirements, which the fellows must meet. The center's reporting requirements may include research of value to a trading company, a department's international trade staff, or to trade promotion groups in the state, and may be in conjunction with or in addition to any requirements of the institution.
     (3) The center may require that the fellow enter into postfellowship employment with a trading company or a department. The center may require that some or all of the fellowship costs be repaid if the fellowship requirements are not met.
     (4) The center shall report to the legislature on the Washington trade corps fellowship program by December 1, 2011, and by December 1st of every other year thereafter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   Neither the center, the trading companies, the departments, the institution, nor any other division of the state is liable for injuries caused by a change in the security situation of the country in which a fellow is stationed. Fellows shall follow all travel advisories published by the United States department of state for the country in which they are stationed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 1 through 7 of this act are each added to chapter 43.31 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2010, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.