H-3878              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1437

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Heavey, Schoon, Cantwell, Holm, May, Wineberry, Winsley, Vekich, B. Williams, Kremen, Braddock, Grant, Rasmussen, P. King, Doty, Sanders, Dorn, Ferguson and Day

Read first time 1/15/88 and referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

AN ACT Relating to access to international trade information; adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the internationalization of the state's economy has increased the importance of international trade to the state's economic vitality.  This is especially true in light of the dramatic financial shifts that have occurred in the past year. The legislature further finds that access to current international trade market information can contribute to the state's efforts to increase the vitality of the state's economy by providing expanded opportunities for the health and growth of in-state businesses, especially small and medium-size businesses.  Information on trade leads currently collected by the federal departments of commerce and agriculture can be readily accessed for use by in-state exporters of goods and services.  The legislature therefore declares that it is in the public interest to establish a trade leads program in the department of trade and economic development to provide in-state exporters access to up-to-date international trade market information and to provide out-of-state buyers with access to information on Washington products.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

          There is established within the department a Washington trade leads program.  In administering the program, the department shall:

          (1)  Establish a computerized trade leads network which shall access the data on trade opportunities currently collected by the United States department of commerce, the United States department of agriculture, and other relevant sources.  The computer network shall provide information on:

          (a) Potential foreign buyers of particular goods and services; and

          (b) In-state goods and services, the producers of which are interested in identifying foreign markets.

          (2) Respond to inquiries from foreign buyers or agents who seek to purchase particular Washington goods and services.

          (3) Charge fees for its services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of seventy-five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of trade and economic development for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, to carry out the purposes of this act.