BILL REQ. #:  H-3544.2 

Read first time 01/13/12.   Referred to Committee on Community & Economic Development & Housing.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing the Washington center for marine innovation; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the state derives significant economic benefits from its marine industry. The legislature also finds that the state's marine industry is recognized worldwide as a model of excellence in ship and boat building, especially for its innovation and quality. The legislature finds that maintaining competitiveness in the marine industry is in the state's best interest and depends on continued investment in research and development to foster continued innovation and improvements in technology. Therefore, the legislature intends to establish the Washington center for marine innovation as a public-private entity to promote research and development efforts to keep and grow the state's competitive advantage in technological innovation and high quality standards of production and repair.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The northwest center of excellence for marine manufacturing and technology shall convene and staff a work group to develop a public-private entity to be known as the Washington center for marine innovation.
     (2) The work group shall consist of voluntary participants of:
     (a) Representatives of the marine industry including, but not limited to, ship and boat manufacturing, shipyards and boatyards, ship and boat suppliers, ship and boat repair and maintenance, advanced materials and composite manufacturing, and biofuel and other alternative fuel production;
     (b) Representatives of institutions of higher education, including research universities, regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and community and technical colleges; and
     (c) Representatives of public ports, economic development agencies, and workforce development agencies.
     (3) The work group shall design the center to:
     (a) Facilitate research and development of innovative technologies and processes for use in marine manufacturing and marine fuel production, such as new composites, advanced materials, and biofuel and other alternative fuels;
     (b) Develop education and training related to new innovations for the marine industry through conferences, workshops, seminars, and technical reviews;
     (c) Provide research and other job training opportunities for students in the marine industry;
     (d) Engage in other activities to ensure that technologies are easily transferred and implemented in the marine industry; and
     (e) Coordinate the center's activities with other institutions and initiatives in the region.
     (4) The work group shall provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on the center's design and its recommendations for any legislation needed to fully implement the design, by December 1, 2012.
     (5) The sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, from the recreation resources account to the state board for community and technical colleges to be allocated to the northwest center of excellence for marine manufacturing and technology for the purposes of this act.