BILL REQ. #:  S-1224.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/07/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to the responsibilities of the department of commerce and associate development organizations; amending RCW 43.330.080; and adding a new section to chapter 43.330 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.330 RCW to read as follows:
     In carrying out its responsibilities under RCW 43.330.060 and 43.330.080, the department shall establish protocols to be followed by associate development organizations and department staff for the recruitment and retention of businesses. The protocols must specify the circumstances under which an associate development organization is required to notify the department of its business recruitment and retention efforts and when the department must notify the associate development organization of its business recruitment and retention efforts. The protocols established may not require the release of proprietary information or the disclosure of information that a client company has requested remain confidential. Compliance with the protocols must be required of associate development organizations by the department in its contracts with them.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.330.080 and 2009 c 151 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department ((shall)) must contract with county-designated associate development organizations to increase the support for and coordination of community and economic development services in communities or regional areas. The organizations contracted within each community or regional area ((shall)) must work closely with the department to carry out state-identified economic development priorities and be broadly representative of community and economic interests. The organization ((shall)) must be capable of identifying key economic and community development problems, developing appropriate solutions, and mobilizing broad support for recommended initiatives. The contracting organization shall work with and include local governments, local chambers of commerce, workforce development councils, port districts, labor groups, institutions of higher education, community action programs, and other appropriate private, public, or nonprofit community and economic development groups. The scope of services delivered under these contracts ((shall)) must include two broad areas of work:
     (1) Direct assistance, including business planning, to companies who need support to stay in business, expand, or relocate to Washington from out of state or other countries. Assistance includes:
     (a) Working with the appropriate partners, including but not limited to, local governments, workforce development councils, port districts, community and technical colleges and higher education institutions, export assistance providers, the Washington manufacturing services, the Washington state quality award council, small business assistance programs, and other federal, state, and local programs to facilitate the alignment of planning efforts and the seamless delivery of business support services in the county;
     (b) Providing information on state and local permitting processes, tax issues, and other essential information for operating, expanding, or locating a business in Washington;
     (c) Marketing Washington and local areas as excellent locations to expand or relocate a business and positioning Washington as a globally competitive place to grow business, which may include developing and executing regional plans to attract companies from out of state;
     (d) Working with businesses on site location and selection assistance;
     (e) Providing business retention and expansion services, including business outreach and monitoring efforts to identify and address challenges and opportunities faced by businesses; and
     (f) Participating in economic development system-wide discussions regarding gaps in business start-up assistance in Washington; and
     (2) Support for regional economic research and regional planning efforts to implement target industry sector strategies and other economic development strategies, including cluster-based strategies, that support increased living standards and increase foreign direct investment throughout Washington. Activities include:
     (a) Participation in regional planning efforts with workforce development councils involving coordinated strategies around workforce development and economic development policies and programs. Coordinated planning efforts ((shall)) must include, but not be limited to, assistance to industry clusters in the region;
     (b) Participation between the contracting organization and the state board for community and technical colleges as created in RCW 28B.50.050, and any community and technical colleges in providing for the coordination of the job skills training program and the customized training program within its region;
     (c) Collecting and reporting data as specified by the contract with the department for statewide systemic analysis. The department ((shall)) must consult with the Washington state economic development commission in the establishment of such uniform data as is needed to conduct a statewide systemic analysis of the state's economic development programs and expenditures. In cooperation with other local, regional, and state planning efforts, contracting organizations may provide insight into the needs of target industry clusters, business expansion plans, early detection of potential relocations or layoffs, training needs, and other appropriate economic information;
     (d) In conjunction with other governmental jurisdictions and institutions, participate in the development of a countywide economic development plan, consistent with the state comprehensive plan for economic development developed by the Washington state economic development commission.
     In carrying out the provisions of subsection (1)(d) and (e) of this section, the contracting organizations must comply with the business recruitment and retention protocols established by the department under section 1 of this act.