BILL REQ. #:  S-2576.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to the Washington international relations foundation; adding a new chapter to Title 44 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation;
     (b) Washington benefits from the exchange of economic, educational, and cultural information and ideas among government leaders and other citizens of foreign countries and members of the Washington legislature and other citizens of our state;
     (c) The participation of Washington state legislators in inbound and outbound trade missions enables the legislature to craft legislation that better addresses trade issues and fosters better understanding between the people of Washington and the people of other nations;
     (d) Economic and business missions to foreign countries often have the effect of bringing investment and jobs to Washington through person-to-person contact and networking; and
     (e) Washington benefits from hosting visitors from other nations to foster business and cultural relationships.
     (2) It is the intent of the legislature that the state increase its support for trade, cultural, and economic exchanges that contribute to the economic development of our state. It is further the intent of the legislature that the state facilitate and encourage these exchanges through the evaluation, organization, and execution of missions.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Foundation" means the Washington international relations foundation.
     (2) "Government leader" means an elected official of the government of a foreign nation, including officials of national, state, or provincial governments.
     (3) "Inbound mission" means a trip on which government leaders are invited to travel to the state of Washington by the Washington state legislature in order to learn about the culture, economy, or governmental structure of the state of Washington.
     (4) "Mission" means either an inbound or an outbound mission.
     (5) "Outbound mission" means a trip on which members of the Washington state legislature are invited to travel to a particular nation by a national, provincial, or state government in order to learn about the culture, economy, or governmental structure of the nation, province, or state that extended the invitation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The Washington international relations foundation is organized as a private, nonprofit corporation in accordance with chapter 24.03 RCW and this section. The purpose of the foundation is to provide assistance to the Washington state legislature in furthering the exchange of economic, educational, and cultural information between government leaders and other citizens of foreign countries and members of the Washington state legislature and other citizens of Washington.
     (2) The foundation is authorized to plan, organize, and implement inbound and outbound missions that exchange information relating to government, trade and commerce, agriculture, tourism, sports, education, technology, environment, and the arts.
     (3)(a) The foundation shall coordinate with appropriate agencies of the executive branch to ensure that legislators on any missions it organizes or assists with will present the state's trade goals in a manner consistent with executive branch policies.
     (b) The foundation shall coordinate with the governor's protocol officer, the department of agriculture, and the department of community, trade, and economic development in the preparation of legislators for meeting with government leaders and other citizens of foreign countries. Such preparation shall include the provision of information on the cultures of other countries and accepted international hospitality practices.
     (c) When the governor's office, the office of the secretary of state, the office of the lieutenant governor, the department of agriculture, or the department of community, trade, and economic development are preparing for a mission and invite the participation of legislators, the foundation shall assist in logistics and planning.
     (4)(a) The foundation may sponsor outbound missions allowing citizens of Washington to travel overseas. Participants on such missions will be selected by the foundation based on the following considerations:
     (i) The applicants' showing of how their skills and expertise would be germane to the mission;
     (ii) The applicants' showing of how their participation will benefit them and their business, employer, or school;
     (iii) The applicants' showing of how they will benefit the state as a result of their participation. This may include, but is not limited to, the publication of reports, delivery of lectures, or writing of newspaper or magazine articles; and
     (iv) The amount of matching funds the applicant will provide.
     (b) In selecting participants for such mission, the foundation will give preference to those applicants who have not traveled overseas before.
     (5) The foundation may solicit charitable donations, gifts, or grants from private or public sources.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The articles of incorporation of the Washington international relations foundation must be drawn up by a committee consisting of the following members:
     (a) Two senators from each of the two major political parties in the Washington state senate, appointed by the president of the senate;
     (b) Two representatives from each of the two major political parties in the Washington state house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
     (c) Three private citizens, representing organizations concerned with international trade.
     (2) The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate must jointly appoint the chair of the committee.
     (3) The committee shall write the articles of incorporation for the Washington international relations foundation within ninety days after the effective date of this section.
     (4) The committee shall appoint the initial directors of the Washington international relations foundation as well as the initial officers of the foundation within thirty days after the articles of incorporation are completed.
     (5) The committee must disband within thirty days of completing the tasks assigned to it in this section.
     (6) This section expires June 30, 2008.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) Upon receiving an official invitation or proposal to develop an inbound or outbound mission, the Washington international relations foundation shall contact the governmental entity issuing the invitation or proposal and determine the following:
     (a) The length of the proposed mission;
     (b) The number of legislators or government leaders invited to participate;
     (c) The benefit to the state of Washington;
     (d) The number and type of businesses invited to participate, if any;
     (e) Whether a reciprocal mission is expected; and
     (f) Other facts pertinent to the planning and organization of the mission.
     (2) Senators participating in a mission shall be appointed by the president of the senate, with the advice of the majority and minority caucus leaders. Members of the house of representatives participating in a mission shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, with the advice of the majority and minority caucus leaders.
     (3) Prior to the departure of each mission, the foundation must create and release to the public a goals statement for the mission. The statement must include, but is not limited to:
     (a) A statement of the mission's objectives, dates, and expected itinerary; and
     (b) A description of the type of knowledge, background, and experience held by a delegation member that might provide assistance to the mission.
     (4) At the conclusion of each mission the foundation shall solicit feedback about the mission and its results from each participating legislator or government leader.
     (5) Following completion of the mission the foundation must prepare a report, and make it available to the public that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
     (a) How the mission achieved or made progress towards achieving the goals stated before the mission;
     (b) The names and titles of all participants of the mission;
     (c) The names and titles of officials visited during the mission;
     (d) A detailed itinerary of the mission;
     (e) The cost of the mission borne by the foundation; and
     (f) The approximate costs of the mission borne by individuals.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The Washington international relations foundation may expend funds necessary for meetings, activities, or events associated with missions.
     (2) The foundation may not use funds to pay an honorarium to any director, officer, or employee of the state of Washington.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The Washington international relations foundation may not carry on propaganda, attempt to influence state or federal legislation, or participate or intervene in any political campaign, including the distribution of statements, on behalf of any candidate for public office.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   The Washington international relations foundation account is created in the state treasury. The account shall consist of all moneys appropriated to the account by the legislature. Moneys deposited into the account shall be used by the Washington international relations foundation, after appropriation, to perform the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   Sections 1 through 3 and 5 through 8 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 44 RCW.