HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5660

                       As Passed House

                        April 9, 1993

Title:  An act relating to the citizens' exchange program.

Brief Description:  Developing the Washington state citizens' exchange program.

Sponsors:  Senators M. Rasmussen, Barr, Deccio, Loveland, Snyder, Fraser, Skratek, Sheldon, Drew, Prince, Winsley, Erwin, Bluechel, Amondson and Franklin.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade, Economic Development & Housing, March 29, 1993, DP;

Appropriations, April 1, 1993, DP;

Passed House, April 9, 1993, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Wineberry, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Forner, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Casada; Conway; Morris; Quall; Schoesler; Sheldon; Springer; and Valle.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Leonard; Linville; Morton; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Sommers; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry; and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Cooke.

Staff:  Beth Redfield (786-7130).

Background:  Citizen exchanges can be a valuable way of developing close cultural, civic, educational and economic ties between the state of Washington and other nations around the world.  The expertise of Washington's citizens in such fields as agriculture, health, and resource management can be shared with other nations, and the state can benefit from the increased tourism, trade and investment that these relationships can stimulate.

Summary of Bill:  The secretary of state, in consultation with the Department of Trade and Economic Development, Department of Agriculture, economic development consultants, the consular corps, and other international trade organizations, is directed to develop a Washington State Citizens' Exchange Program.

The aim of the Citizens' Exchange Program is to initiate and promote increased exchanges between Washington State individuals and organizations with their counterparts in other nations in the areas of agriculture, technology, education, resource management, and health.  The secretary of state must report back to the Legislature in January 1994 with a proposal for instituting the program.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  (Trade, Economic Development & Housing): Exchanges between citizens of the state of Washington and other nations is extremely valuable.  The program would be targeted to those nations that we do not have a trade relationship with.  These exchanges would be focused in the areas of education, agriculture, and technology.

(Appropriations): The bill will allow Washington State to complement its trade in natural resources and manufactured goods with the interchange of human resources.  The program would target exchanges with countries which are potential trading partners for Washington State.  The bill does not set up a program, but gives direction to put together a plan.  The envisioned plan may rely on nonstate funds.

Testimony Against:  (Trade, Economic Development & Housing): None.

(Appropriations): None.

Witnesses:  (Trade, Economic Development & Housing): Senator M. Rasmussen, prime sponsor (Pro); Ralph Munro, Secretary of State (Pro); and Dr. Frank "Buster" Brouillet, Pierce College (Pro).

(Appropriations): Senator Rasmussen, prime sponsor (supports); and Ralph Munro, Secretary of State (supports).