HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2574

             As Reported By House Committee On:

            Trade, Economic Development & Housing

Title:  An act relating to minority and women's export assistance.

Brief Description:  Funding minority and women's export assistance.

Sponsors:  Representatives Caver, Wineberry, Forner, Veloria, G. Cole, Holm, Mastin, Johanson, J. Kohl, Cothern and Anderson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade, Economic Development & Housing, February 3, 1994, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Wineberry, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Schoesler, Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Campbell; Conway; Morris; Quall; Springer; Valle and Wood.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; and Sheldon.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:  The Omnibus Minority and Women-Owned Business Assistance Act, enacted in 1993, provides technical assistance, training and education, export assistance, contract procurement assistance, loans and grants, and bonding assistance to certified minority and women-owned businesses.

The Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED), as part of the act, was directed to provide technical assistance to minority and women-owned businesses in the area of export assistance.  The export assistance consists of identification of domestic and international markets and capacity building for exporting.  The Governor vetoed the funding provisions in the bill due to technical errors.

Summary of Bill:  Twenty-five thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Trade and Economic Development for minority and women-owned business export assistance activities.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Appropriation:  $25,000 general fund - state.

Testimony For:  Many minority and women-owned businesses have been left behind in the area of exporting.  Most of this is due to the lack of technical assistance in this specialized field.  State efforts to expand exporting opportunities have been successful.  However, much still needs to be done.  This bill will help provide that specialized technical assistance that will increase minority and women-owned businesses' opportunities in this expanding field.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Vivian Caver, prime sponsor (pro); Representative Velma Veloria (pro);  Melvin Fields, MTD Marketing (pro); Mick Matsuzawa, Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce (pro); Ron Owens (pro); and Keith Donnell, Western Samoa Oil Corporation (pro).