H-3637.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2832

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Van Luven, Shin, Wineberry, Jacobsen, Ballasiotes, Johanson, Appelwick, Forner, Long, B. Thomas, R. Johnson, Cothern, Jones, L. Johnson and J. Kohl

Read first time 01/26/94.  Referred to Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing.

Diversifying the economy by locating a film and video production facility within the state.

    AN ACT Relating to economic diversification through film and video production; amending RCW 43.330.090; making an appropriation; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 43.330.090 and 1993 c 280 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall work with private sector organizations, local governments, local economic development organizations, and higher education and training institutions to assist in the development of strategies to diversify the economy, facilitate technology transfer and diffusion, and increase value-added production by focusing on targeted sectors.  The targeted sectors may include, but are not limited to, software, forest products, biotechnology, environmental industries, recycling markets and waste reduction, aerospace, food processing, tourism, film and video, microelectronics, new materials, robotics, and machine tools.  The department shall, on a continuing basis, evaluate the potential return to the state from devoting additional resources to a targeted sector's approach to economic development and including additional sectors in its efforts.  The department shall use information gathered in each service delivery region in formulating its sectoral strategies and in designating new targeted sectors.

    (2) The department shall ensure that the state continues to pursue a coordinated program to expand the tourism industry throughout the state in cooperation with the public and private tourism development organizations.  The department shall work to provide a balance of tourism activities throughout the state and during different seasons of the year.  In addition, the department shall promote, market, and encourage growth in the production of films and videos, as well as television commercials within the state; to this end the department is directed to assist in the location of a film and video production studio within the state.

    (3) In assisting in the development of a targeted sector, the department's activities may include, but are not limited to:

    (a) Conducting focus group discussions, facilitating meetings, and conducting studies to identify members of the sector, appraise the current state of the sector, and identify issues of common concern within the sector;

    (b) Supporting the formation of industry associations, publications of association directories, and related efforts to create or expand the activities or industry associations;

    (c) Assisting in the formation of flexible networks by providing (i) agency employees or private sector consultants trained to act as flexible network brokers and (ii) funding for potential flexible network participants for the purpose of organizing or implementing a flexible network;

    (d) Helping establish research consortia;

    (e) Facilitating joint training and education programs;

    (f) Promoting cooperative market development activities;

    (g) Analyzing the need, feasibility, and cost of establishing product certification and testing facilities and services; and

    (h) Providing for methods of electronic communication and information dissemination among firms and groups of firms to facilitate network activity.

    By January 10th of each year, the department shall report in writing on its targeted sector programs to the appropriate legislative economic development committees.  The department's report shall include an appraisal of the sector, activities the department has undertaken to assist in the development of each sector, and recommendations to the legislature regarding activities that the state should implement but are currently beyond the scope of the department's program or resources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The sum of thirty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the purposes of assisting the location of a film and video production facility in the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1994.

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