HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6082

                       As Passed House

                        March 3, 1994

Title:  An act relating to the center for international trade in forest products.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to the center for international trade in forest products.

Sponsors:  Senators Snyder, Bluechel, Amondson, Skratek, Hargrove, Sheldon, Owen, M. Rasmussen, Oke and Erwin.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade, Economic Development & Housing, February 25, 1994, DPA.

Passed House, March 3, 1994, 85-11.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

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

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  The Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR) was established in statute in 1985 with responsibilities for (1) conducting research for expansion of forest-based international trade in manufactured forest products; (2) developing industrial technology to meet international customers' needs; (3) coordinating and disseminating market and technical information; (4)  providing graduate education; (5) cooperating with other state and federal agencies; and (6) seeking financial support from private industry and from federal and other government sources.

In response to a 1991 Legislative Budget Committee sunset review, the 1992 Legislature made a number of changes to CINTRAFOR's enabling statute, including placing more emphasis on the provision of research, analysis, and market information of value to secondary manufacturers.  The 1992 Legislature also set a new sunset date of June 30, 1994.

The Legislative Budget Committee conducted another sunset review during 1993 and recommended continuation of CINTRAFOR.  However, the review surfaced concerns that CINTRAFOR was not meeting the legislative intent to focus more closely on secondary manufacturing issues.

Summary of Bill:  CINTRAFOR is directed to assist in the development of commercialization support for manufactured products and the development of research and analysis on the quality and availability of wood resources.  The center is to give special emphasis to secondary manufacturing in its work and assist in the development of a wood products manufacturing curriculum.

The center's executive policy board is to have at least 50 percent of its business members representing small and medium-sized businesses.  The board is also to include a representative of the community and technical colleges and a representative of a wood products manufacturing network or trade association of small and medium-sized wood manufacturers.

The center is to report annually on its work and is subject to sunset in 2000.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is to develop a competency-based technical degree program in wood product manufacturing and wood technology and make it available in timber impact areas.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 1994.

Testimony For:  CINTRAFOR serves a valuable function and should be continued.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Bruce Lippke, University of Washington.