S-179                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5007

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Lee, McMullen, Anderson, Conner and Johnson

Prefiled with Secretary of the Senate 12/5/88.  Read first time 1/9/89 and referred to Committee on Economic Development & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to international marketing; adding new sections to chapter 43.31 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The Washington international marketing internship program is hereby established within the department.  Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in sections 2 through 6 of this act "program" means the Washington international marketing internship program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The purpose of the program is to provide the state with a broad base of export-oriented experienced marketing people to promote Washington products and services outside of the state.  The program shall provide interns with on- the-job training, provide additional jobs throughout the state, help the state develop new markets and new products, and provide companies with financial incentives to hire interns under the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The program shall provide up to fifteen internships per year.  Each internship position will be for a period of two years.  Candidates shall be:  (1) Washington state residents; and (2) seniors in college or the equivalent, or have graduated in business, marketing, international studies, or other appropriate fields within six months immediately prior to application, or be candidates for a masters' or doctorate degree in an appropriate field.  Candidates for an internship shall submit an application to the department on a form approved by the director.  The department shall disseminate information about the program to private and public colleges, universities, and community colleges within the state and to companies eligible to participate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Companies wishing to participate in the internship program shall provide a written application on a form approved by the director and shall:

          (1) Have been in existence for at least one year and have at least one hundred thousand dollars in export sales annually;

          (2)  Offer for sale commodities or a product or provide services that derive at least fifty percent of their dollar value from any process, procedure, or treatment performed in the state or from the use of raw materials or components grown, produced, or manufactured in the state;

          (3)  Have facilities and experienced personnel to train an intern in international marketing;

          (4)  Be able to provide employment beyond the two-year internship period;

          (5)  Create a new position for the intern, rather than filling a current position; and

          (6)  Provide a challenging program for the intern, with an emphasis on overseas experience.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The department shall provide fifty percent of the intern's base salary.  Base salary shall not include benefits or commissions.  The maximum subsidy per intern per company shall be ten thousand dollars each program year.  Reimbursement to the company shall be made at six-month intervals upon presentation of an invoice by the company.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     If the intern's employment is terminated or if the intern is transferred to a nonexport related position during the two-year period, the company shall notify the department. Reimbursement payments shall no longer be available.  However, if a new intern is placed within three months of finishing the two-year assignment, the company shall not have to reapply to the department for approval to participate.  The selection and hiring of the intern is an internal company decision; however, individuals who apply to be interns shall be approved by the department, and only those so approved may be selected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     Sections 1 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 43.31 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.     The sum of three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the department of trade and economic development for the purposes of this act.