BILL REQ. #:  S-4985.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/02/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a statewide online business training and entrepreneurial curriculum; and amending RCW 28B.30.530.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.30.530 and 1984 c 77 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board of regents of Washington State University shall establish the Washington State University small business development center.
     (2) The center shall provide management and technical assistance including but not limited to training, counseling, and research services to small businesses throughout the state. The center shall work with public and private community development and economic assistance agencies and shall work towards the goal of coordinating activities with such agencies to avoid duplication of services.
     (3) The administrator of the center may contract with other public or private entities for the provision of specialized services.
     (4) The small business and development center may accept and disburse federal grants or federal matching funds or other funds or donations from any source when made, granted, or donated to carry out the center's purposes.
     (5) The small business development center shall:
     (a) Establish an entrepreneurial and small business development online curriculum, consistent with federal regulations;
     (b) Develop the curriculum course content in coordination with: The department of community, trade, and economic development; the state microenterprise association; universities and community and technical colleges with small business assistance programs; the work force training and education coordinating board; and other public and private entrepreneurial and small business assistance centers in the state;
     (c) Complete the curriculum as soon as possible, but no later than June 30, 2007;
     (d) Make the curriculum free of charge and available for use by individuals and all public and private entrepreneurial development and small business assistance centers throughout the state;
     (e) Promote curriculum use by providing electronic and printed informational materials on the curriculum to public and private entrepreneurial development and small business assistance centers throughout the state;
     (f) Ensure curriculum accessibility by promoting the use of web links to the curriculum on state public and private web sites that small business owners and entrepreneurs use in establishing and incorporating their businesses; and
     (g) Work to complete online links to the curriculum on state public and private web sites by December 31, 2007.
     (6) The entrepreneurial and small business development curriculum courses shall contain written assignments and progress standards that allow participants to submit their work product and prove curriculum completion to state agencies or private organizations for credit.