SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5705
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade, February 9, 2023
Title: An act relating to the administration of the legislative committee on economic development and international relations.
Brief Description: Concerning the administration of the legislative committee on economic development and international relations.
Sponsors: Senators Stanford, Dozier and Hasegawa.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade: 2/07/23, 2/09/23 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows for expenditure reimbursement on travel and lodging.
  • Amends the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations members eligible to serve on the committee from six to eight members per chamber.
  • Repeals the requirement for vouchers to be used as the form of expenditure reimbursement for members.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, GAMING & TRADE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Stanford, Chair; Frame, Vice Chair; Dozier, Ranking Member; Boehnke, Gildon, Hasegawa, Lovick, MacEwen and Mullet.
Staff: Megan Tudor (786-7478)
Background:

Office of the Lieutenant Governor.  The Office of the Lieutenant Governor was established with the creation of Washington's statehood in 1889. The Lieutenant Governor position serves as the President of the Senate, performs duties as the acting governor when the Governor is absent from the state, and acts as Chair of the Senate Rules Committee. As part of the responsibilities of the President of the Senate, the Lieutenant Governor serves on no fewer than seven boards and committees including the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR).


Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations.  The LCEDIR was originally established in 1985 as the Legislative Committee on Economic Development. In 2003, the Legislature added international relations into the jurisdiction of the committee. The purpose of LCEDIR is to study and review economic development issues, placing special emphasis on international trade, tourism, investment, and industrial development, and assist the Legislature in developing comprehensive and consistent economic development policy. LCEDIR committee members include six senators and six representatives, with three Democratic members and three Republican members appointed from each legislative body as well as the Lieutenant Governor as committee chair. Vacancies on the committee are filled by the appointing authority.
Summary of Bill:

The LCEDIR international trade account expenditure reimbursement list is amended to allow for travel and lodging reimbursement. The total number of committee members eligible to serve on the committee is increased from six senators and six representatives to eight senators and eight representatives. The number of appointed Democratic and Republican members from each legislative body is increased from three to four each. The bill expands committee cooperation with other entities to include provinces and territories of Canada as well as foreign consuls. State law regarding the requirement for vouchers to be used as the form of expenditure reimbursement for members is repealed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: LCEDIR is a popular committee and several legislators are interested in joining as committee members. Current members of the committee want to remain on the committee. This bill will expand membership slightly while making updates to the statute. The Lieutenant Governor is in support of this bill and the opportunity to have four more legislators—two senators and two representatives—serve on LCEDIR.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Derek Stanford, Prime Sponsor; Dallas Roberts, Lieutenant Governor's Office.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.