BILL REQ. #:  H-4479.1 

Read first time 01/18/08.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a task force on port district efficiency and collaboration; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1)(a) The legislative task force on Washington state port district collaboration is established, with members as provided in this subsection:
     (i) Two members from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
     (ii) Two members from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;
     (iii) Three members from the Washington public ports association, with at least two members representing ports with air and sea port operations, appointed by the governor;
     (iv) One member from the freight mobility strategic investment board, appointed by the governor;
     (v) One member from county government, appointed by the Washington state association of counties;
     (vi) One member from city government, appointed by the association of Washington cities;
     (vii) One member from the association of Washington business, appointed by the governor;
     (viii) One member from the labor community, selected by the Washington state labor council; and
     (ix) One member from the environmental community, appointed by the Washington environmental council.
     (b) The task force member from the house of representatives with the most seniority shall select a chair from among its legislative membership.
     (2) The task force shall consult with individuals from the public and private sectors and other interested parties, as may be appropriate, for technical advice and assistance and may ask such individuals to establish advisory committees or work groups that report to the task force.
     (3) The efforts of the task force shall be directed at discovering and exploring productive methods for promoting greater efficiencies for and collaborations between Washington's port districts, districts that often compete against each other, and other national and international ports. The task force shall: (a) Examine the likely benefits and disadvantages associated with collaborations between port districts; and (b) consider how a regional port district could be structured and governed.
     (4) The task force shall use legislative facilities, and staff support shall be provided by the house of representatives office of program research, senate committee services, and the office of financial management.
     (5) The expenses of the task force must be paid jointly by the house of representatives, the senate, and the office of financial management. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their successor committees.
     (6) The task force shall report upon its initial actions to the governor and appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 1, 2008.
     (7) The task force shall report its finding and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 1, 2009.
     (8) The task force expires May 1, 2010.