HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SCR 8406

             As Reported By House Committee On:

            Trade, Economic Development & Housing

Brief Description:  Creating a committee for agricultural housing and benefits.

Sponsors:  Senators M. Rasmussen, Loveland, Barr, Haugen, Winsley, Anderson, Moyer, Prentice, Deccio, Bauer, Spanel, Skratek, Snyder, Franklin and Hochstatter.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade, Economic Development & Housing, April 21, 1993, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Wineberry, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Forner, Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Conway; Schoesler; Springer; and Valle.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan (786-7340).

Background:  Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the state.  Studies indicate that farmworkers face affordable housing and employment-related issues.

Summary of Amended Bill:  An 18 member Committee on Agricultural Housing and Benefits is created.  The committee is comprised of 10 legislators, the chair and ranking minority members from: the Senate Agriculture Committee; the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee; the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee; the House Trade, Economic Development and Housing Committee; and the House Commerce and Labor Committee.  Eight members are appointed by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House:  three representatives from the agricultural community that provide farmworker housing; three representatives from farmworkers; one representative from private nonprofit farmworker housing organizations; and one representative from the building industry.

The committee must explore all aspects of issues regarding adequate farmworker housing, health care benefits, child care needs, special education needs, and the appropriateness and need for a grievance board.  The committee must report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 31, 1993.  The committee terminates on January 10, 1994.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The chair and ranking minority member of the House Trade, Economic Development and Housing Committee are added.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.