SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1132

BYHouse Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Jesernig, Hankins, Brooks, Vekich, Baugher, Todd, Jacobsen, Unsoeld, Cantwell, Sutherland, Grant, Hine, Rasmussen, Holm, Belcher, Wineberry, Hargrove, Beck, Schoon, Braddock, Amondson, McMullen, Moyer, Rayburn, Locke, Dellwo, Ebersole, Grimm, Prince, Miller, Nealey, P. King, Basich, Ferguson and Spanel)

Providing for diversification of economy of Tri-Cities.

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):April 2, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Warnke, Chairman; Smitherman, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Cantu, Sellar, Tanner, Vognild, West, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Jack Brummel (786-7428)

                  April 2, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR, APRIL 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Hanford Nuclear Reactor is scheduled to cease plutonium production in the mid-1990's.  The United States Department of Energy (DOE) issued a study predicting that 19,780 jobs would be lost state-wide in the event of a shut down.  According to the DOE study, Hanford jobs account for about 27 percent of all non-farm jobs in the Tri-Cities area and 45 percent of the non-farm payroll.  When employment in the service economy is excluded, Hanford workers account for about 75 percent of the Tri-Cities' industrial labor base.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Trade and Economic Development, in conjunction with the Department of Community Development, shall study the state's role in the economic diversification of the economy of the Tri-Cities area.  The study shall focus on:  higher education capabilities, methods of utilizing the Tri-Cities economic development assets to diversify the economy, methods of addressing the economic development liabilities of the area, potential markets for Tri-Cities services and products, the availability of potential funding sources, federally-developed technology transfer to the commercial arena, and the development of a diversification plan.

Relevant local, state, and federal agencies shall be consulted in conducting the study. The Department shall submit a final report to the appropriate standing committees of the Legislature by January 1, 1988.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The City of Pasco is added to list of entities consulted in conducting study.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Jim Jesernig