H-4239              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2973

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Wineberry, Ferguson, Locke, O'Brien, Jacobsen and Crane

Read first time 1/29/90 and referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

AN ACT Relating to minority-owned business assistance; adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

          A minority-owned business specialist position is established in the business assistance center.  The minority-owned business specialist shall:

          (1) Provide technical assistance to minority-owned businesses, and to persons who are members of minority groups and wish to start businesses, to help the firms or individuals identify and make full use of state and federal business assistance resources;

          (2) Advocate for the interests of minority-owned businesses within state government by:

          (a) Keeping informed about business and government initiatives and trends that may impact the minority-owned business community and communicating this information to the minority-owned business community; and

          (b) Providing input to state agencies on issues that affect the minority-owned business community to raise overall awareness and sensitivity of state agencies regarding these issues;

          (3) Identify programs and policies in other states that provide significant benefits to minority-owned firms and assess the potential of such programs and policies for minority-owned businesses in Washington state;

          (4) Report to the governor and the house of representatives trade and economic development committee and the senate economic development and labor committee each January beginning in 1991, including recommendations for new programs or policies that would assist minority-owned businesses; and

          (5) Perform other appropriate duties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     Fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as is necessary, is appropriated from the general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to the department of trade and economic development to carry out the purposes of this act.