HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1961

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to Washington state's sister-state relationship with Hyogo prefecture, Japan.

Brief Description:  Commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of Washington's sister‑state relationship with Hyogo prefecture.

Sponsors:  Representatives Shin, Brumsickle, Hansen, Cothern, Eide, Wood, Veloria, Bray, Jacobsen, Quall, Rayburn, Flemming, Kessler, Carlson, Basich, Ogden, Sheahan, Wang, King, J. Kohl and Anderson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, March 3, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Veloria, Vice Chair; Reams, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Conway; Dyer; King; and Pruitt.

Staff:  Bonnie Austin (786-7135).

Background:  Hyogo Prefecture, located in western Honshu, has a population of 5.4 million, similar to that of the state of Washington.  It is composed of five districts:  Hanshin, Harima, Tajima, Tanba, and Awaji Island.  The latter became linked by bridge to the rest of the prefecture in 1985.  The districts of Hyogo, like the regions of Washington, vary significantly in climate and industry.

Hyogo Prefecture became a sister-state of the state of Washington in 1963.  Its capital, Kobe, is a sister-city of the city of Seattle.  In 1990, the Hyogo Cultural Center was established in Seattle to assist in cultural and citizen exchanges with this state.  Economic and trade information is provided by the prefecture through the center.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The sum of $45,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Office of International Relations and Protocol for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, and any amounts remaining on June 30 are reappropriated.  The monies are for the purposes of planning for an event or series of events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Washington-Hyogo sister-state relationship, to coordinate the activities of official visitors and delegations, and to solicit contributions from the private sector to assist in the commemorative activities.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A technical correction was made to the appropriation language.

Fiscal Note:  Requested March 2, 1993.

Appropriation:  The sum of $45,000 from the general fund to the Office of International Relations and Protocol.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This is the longest sister-state relationship in the United States.  These past 30 years have been profitable for both parties.  This relationship is more than just paperwork.  This relationship has resulted in many trade and business agreements, as well as cultural exchanges.  This relationship encourages us to think in terms of the global economy.  Washington is expecting hundreds of visitors from Hyogo this year to celebrate this anniversary.  This is a modest amount of money to spend for this purpose.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Paull Shin, prime sponsor (pro); Ralph Munro, Secretary of State (pro); and Brent Heinemann, Governor's Office of International Relations (pro).