"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The Washington trade corps fellowship program is established at the University of Washington center for international business education and research to promote international trade and award fellowships to students who have shown significant interest in pursuing a career in international trade.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to sections 1 through 7 of this act.
     (1) "Center" means the center for international business education and research at the University of Washington.
     (2) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development, or the department of agriculture.
     (3) "Fellow" means the recipient of a Washington trade corps fellowship award.
     (4) "Institution" means an accredited public or private university or college within the state of Washington.
     (5) "Trade office" means an office located outside the United States operated by a private company, an industry association, an agricultural commodity commission, or similar organization to promote its products or services; or funded by the department of community, trade, and economic development, the department of agriculture, or the United States commercial service of the department of commerce for the purpose of promoting international trade and commerce.
     (6) "Trading company" means a private company operating in the state with at least one trade office.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Candidates for the fellowship must be:
     (a) A resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012;
     (b) Enrolled in an institution's program offering a degree or credential in international trade, international relations, international business, or a related area;
     (c) Proficient in the language common to the area in which they will be placed;
     (d) Able to work in international trade activities that benefit Washington state products, services, or international trade interests for two years after completing the fellowship. This requirement may start as soon as the fellowship is completed but no later than one year after graduation from the educational program in which the fellow is enrolled; and
     (e) Accountable for repayment to the trade corps fellowship program the total amount of state funding provided to the fellow if the requirements of the fellowship are not fulfilled in their entirety.
     (2) The center also may require that prospective fellowship candidates intern in the state with a trading company or a department as a prerequisite to applying for a fellowship.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) A fellowship must be available for no more than five persons per year. Fellows shall serve a minimum of six months and may serve a maximum of eighteen months.
     (2) Fellows shall be compensated with a stipend and provided living and travel expenses while overseas. The total cost provided by the center per fellow, per year, must not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars, at least fifty percent of which must be derived by the center from nonstate sources.
     (3) Institutions are encouraged to and may provide students with college credit for serving as a fellow.
     (4) To raise the nonstate funding match required by subsection (2) of this section, the center shall seek matching funds from trading companies, other private companies, foundations, and other relevant sources.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The center must appoint a committee to assist it in evaluating and selecting applicants for the fellowships. At least three of the committee members must be members of organizations concerned with international trade; at least one must be from a statewide organization; and at least two must represent regional organizations from different regions of the state. At least three of the committee members must be from institutions and have expertise in international trade. The decision of the center in selecting fellows is final.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The center must assign fellows to trade offices in consultation with each fellow's institution. A placement in a department's trade office will be made with the approval of the department. The department may impose additional requirements as necessary to facilitate the efficient operation of its trade offices. No more than two fellows shall be assigned to any trade office at one time.
     (2) The center must require that the work of each fellow be focused on activities that benefit products, services, and international trade interests of Washington state.
     (3) The center must establish reporting requirements, which the fellows must meet. The center's reporting requirements may include research of value to a trading company, a department's international trade staff, or to trade promotion groups in the state, and may be in conjunction with or in addition to any requirements of the institution.
     (4) The center may require that the fellow enter into postfellowship employment with a trading company or a department.
     (5) The center may require that some or all of the fellowship costs be repaid if the fellowship requirements are not met.
     (6) The center must report to the legislature on the Washington trade corps fellowship program by December 1, 2010, and by December 1st of every other year thereafter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   Neither the center, the trading companies, the departments, the institution, nor any other division of the state is liable for injuries caused by a change in the security situation of the country in which a fellow is stationed. Fellows must follow all travel advisories published by the United States department of state for the country in which they are stationed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 1 through 7 of this act are each added to chapter 43.31 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2008, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void."