BILL REQ. #:  S-0143.1 

Read first time 01/11/2007.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Management.

     AN ACT Relating to the Washington international relations foundation; adding a new section to chapter 42.52 RCW; 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) "Government leader" means an elected official of the government of a foreign nation, including officials of national, state, or provincial governments.
     (2) "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.
     (3) "Mission" means either an inbound or an outbound mission.
     (4) "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 Washington international relations foundation is empowered to plan and organize inbound and outbound missions and implement inbound missions. The foundation may assist in hosting inbound missions and preparing for outbound missions that exchange information relating to government, trade and commerce, agriculture, tourism, technology, environment, and the arts.
     (3) The Washington international relations foundation shall coordinate with appropriate agencies of the executive branch to ensure that missions help present the state's trade goals in a manner consistent with executive branch policies.
     (4) The Washington international relations foundation may solicit charitable donations, gifts, or grants from private or public sources. The Washington international relations foundation may receive funds from the legislative international trade account created in RCW 43.15.050.

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 extending 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) Prior to the departure of each mission, the Washington international relations 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.
     (3) At the conclusion of each mission, a report must be prepared and made 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 Washington international relations foundation; and
     (f) The approximate costs of the mission borne by individuals.
     (4) Following completion of the mission, upon request, each participating legislator or government leader is encouraged to provide feedback concerning the mission and its results to the Washington international relations foundation in a timely manner.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The Washington international relations foundation may expend funds in conjunction with meetings, activities, or events within the state of Washington that are sponsored by the foundation and are attended by, among other persons, government leaders and citizens of foreign countries who are making official visits to the Washington state legislature. Funds may also be expended for the purchase of appropriate gifts for presentation to government leaders and citizens of foreign countries who are receiving official visits from, or are making official visits to, the Washington state legislature.
     (2) The funds of the Washington international relations foundation may be used to help organize outbound missions, but may not be used to pay for the execution of outbound missions.
     (3) The Washington international relations foundation may not use funds to pay the expenses, excluding the cost of food and beverage, transportation, or lodging, of any director, officer, or employee of the state of Washington, or to pay any 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   A new section is added to chapter 42.52 RCW to read as follows:
     When soliciting charitable gifts, grants, or donations solely for the benefit of the Washington international relations foundation created under chapter 44.-- RCW (sections 1 through 3 and 5 through 7 of this act), state officers and state employees are presumed to be in compliance with the solicitation and receipt of gift provisions of RCW 42.52.140.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   Sections 1 through 3 and 5 through 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 44 RCW.