SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1165

BYHouse Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives O'Brien, Ferguson, Winsley, Haugen and Nelson)

Establishing a temporary commission of public ports.

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 29, 1989; March 31, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; McMullen, Murray, Smitherman, Warnke, Williams.

Senate Staff:Steve Boruchowitz (786-7429)

                  March 31, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & LABOR, MARCH 31, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Economic Development Board recommended that the public ports play an increased role in local capacity building.  The board specifically recommended that the ports should provide funding for local associate development organizations, and that ports should increase their cooperative efforts in order to provide a higher level of services.  Services mentioned by the board include the marketing of services of all the state's ports to the rest of the world, assisting Washington businesses to export, providing a pooled bonding capacity for investment purposes, and establishing trade offices throughout the world in cooperation with state government.

It has been suggested that a temporary task force could help identify areas for increased cooperation among ports, recommend opportunities for contracts between ports and local economic development organizations, identify other cooperative efforts between ports and local associate development organizations, and help implement the recommendations of the Economic Development Board.

SUMMARY:

A temporary task force is created to identify increased areas of cooperation available to ports and local associate development organizations to improve coordination, increase efficiency, and to help build local capacity.

The task force is required to study the following:  the feasibility of joint marketing efforts; measures available to enhance the mission of ports and local associate development organizations, including the establishment of joint trade offices; opportunities to enhance the financial base of ports and local associate development organizations independent of additional taxation measures; opportunities to expand the state's air cargo capacity; opportunities to assist local economic development efforts and build local capacity; and other areas which are deemed relevant by the task force.

The task force is composed of 20 members:  one commissioner and one executive director from the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma; two commissioners from other ports, one of which must be from a port district in eastern Washington and the other port commissioner must be from a medium-size port district; two executive directors from other port districts, one of which must be from a port district in eastern Washington and the other must be from a medium-size port district; two executive directors of local associate development organizations, one of which must be from eastern Washington; four members from the general public representing business, labor, and community organizations; the directors from the Departments of Trade and Economic Development and Community Development; and a representative from each of the four legislative caucuses.

The Department of Community Development and the Department of Trade and Economic Development are required to furnish staff support to the task force.

The task force is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 1990.  The task force expires on March 1, 1990.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Appointments by Legislature Required:     Two senators (one from each caucus) by the President of the Senate and two representatives (one from each caucus) by the Speaker of the House.

Senate Committee - Testified: Mike Coan, Seattle Chamber of Commerce (pro); Steve Savell, Zegu Van Asch Van Wyck, Port of Seattle (pro); Jim Boldt, Jack Faubalich, Port of Tacoma (con); Paul Knox, EDB (pro); Elizabeth Heath, Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County (con); Rep. Maria Cantwell; Rep. John O'Brien (pro); Don White, Washington Public Ports Association; Randy Ray, Puget Sound Steamship Operators Association (con)