S-1750               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6018

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senator Williams

Read first time 2/23/89 and referred to Committee on  Economic Development & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to technological developments and information; and adding new sections 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 dominance of American industries in  domestic and international markets has seriously deteriorated.  The enormous United States trade deficit indicates the fierce competitiveness of foreign manufacturers.  The newly industrialized countries have significantly increased their production of capital goods such as steel, automobiles, and electronics.  Many of the newly industrialized countries have become not only self-sufficient in the production of food products but also agricultural exporters.  This threatens our agricultural market dominance.  One of the major reasons that foreign manufacturers have become fiercely competitive is that many of the foreign governments have facilitated the dissemination and availability of new and innovative technologies to manufacturers.

          It is the intent of the legislature to make new and innovative technologies easily and readily available to Washington manufacturers.  It is the legislature's further intent to make available to Washington business communities the best marketing information on how these new and innovative technologies can make Washington industries more competitive with their foreign competitors.

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

          The department shall, in conjunction with the high-technology center at the University of Washington and the IMPACT center at Washington State University, sponsor a minimum of two annual forums for farmers, agricultural-oriented businesses, businesses, labor, and communities to present new and existing information and developments in technology and marketing that will benefit the Washington economy.  At least one forum shall be conducted east of the Cascades and at least one forum shall be conducted west of the Cascades.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

          The department shall seek and may disburse gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources to be used for the purposes of section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The sum of fifty thousand dollars, or as 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, 1991, to carry out the purposes of this act, on the condition that the department raise an equal amount in gifts, grants, endowments, or in-kind contributions.