5868-S

AN ACT Relating to consolidation of state agencies; amending RCW 28C.18.060, 43.17.010, 43.17.020, 19.85.020, 42.17.319, 43.17.065, 43.20A.750, 43.31.057, 43.31.085, 43.31.205, 43.31.409, 43.31.411, 43.31.422, 43.31.504, 43.31.522, 43.31.524, 43.31.526, 43.31.621, 43.31.641, 43.31.830, 43.31.840, 43.31.850, 43.160.020, 43.168.020, 43.210.110, 43.63A.066, 43.63A.075, 43.63A.115, 43.63A.155, 43.63A.220, 43.63A.230, 43.63A.245, 43.63A.247, 43.63A.260, 43.63A.275, 43.63A.300, 43.63A.320, 43.63A.330, 43.63A.340, 43.63A.400, 43.63A.410, 43.63A.440, 43.63A.450, 43.63A.460, 43.63A.600, and 43.105.020; reenacting and amending RCW 42.17.310; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 43.31.005, 43.31.015, 43.31.025, 43.31.035, 43.31.045, 43.31.055, 43.31.065, 43.31.075, 43.31.095, 43.31.097, 43.31.105, 43.31.115, 43.31.130, 43.31.135, 43.31.373, 43.31.375, 43.31.377, 43.31.379, 43.31.381, 43.31.383, 43.31.387, 43.31.430, 43.31.432, 43.31.434, 43.31.436, 43.31.438, 43.31.440, 43.31.442, 43.31.651, 43.31.790, 43.31.800, 43.31.810, 43.31.820, 43.63A.020, 43.63A.030, 43.63A.040, 43.63A.050, 43.63A.060, 43.63A.065, 43.63A.078, 43.63A.095, 43.63A.100, 43.63A.130, 43.63A.140, 43.63A.210, 43.63A.560, 43.165.020, 43.165.030, 43.165.040, 43.165.050, 43.165.060, 43.165.070, 43.165.080, 43.165.090, 43.165.100, 43.165.900, and 43.165.901; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the long-term health of the state and its citizens depends upon the broad availability of family-wage jobs, the flexibility and innovativeness of business firms, the skills and capacity of the work force, local communities that are strong and adaptive, the availability of affordable housing, local and regional planning to anticipate and plan for changing circumstances, and infrastructure to support local social and economic needs, human services, and safe communities. These needs are tied to one another and are all critical to maintaining the state's quality of life and economic health in the face of changing circumstances.

The legislature further finds that as a result of the rapid pace of social and economic change, maintaining the quality of life and standard of living for the citizens of the state will require new and inventive responses by communities, firms, industries, and individuals. The state can play a helpful role in assisting such efforts by reorganizing state assistance efforts and requiring new partnerships at the local level and new relations between the state and industries and within industries.

The legislature finds that the consolidation of the department of trade and economic development and the department of community development into one department will improve the efficiency and effectiveness with which state services are delivered to build the skill and capacity of businesses and local communities to respond to economic change. Such a consolidation will increase the accountability to the public, the executive, and the legislature for the performance of economic and community development functions.

It is the intent of the legislature in consolidating the two agencies that the economic and community development functions be merged in a manner that allows the new department to direct state resources of significant scope and scale to (1) geographic areas with the greatest relative economic need and the fewest resources and (2) targeted sectors of the economy that have the greatest potential for either wealth generation through value-added production, or for negative economic impact on the state or substate regions. The legislature intends through this consolidation to encourage state actions to build and diversify the economy to encourage long-term, family-wage employment and promote and assist in providing the physical and social infrastructure needed to support the creation and maintenance of such employment. It is also the intent of the legislature to support economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and employment that is derived from maintaining the environment and from sustainable use of natural resources.

It is the further intent of the legislature in this consolidation to maximize the use of local expertise and local community resources in the delivery of economic and community development services, and to ensure that the services offered are the ones desired by the state's community and business customers. The community services and community development services of the department, such as growth management, community services block grants, early childhood education, and the housing trust fund shall be administered in accord with their original implementing legislation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The purpose of this chapter is to establish the broad outline of the structure of the department of economic and community development, leaving specific details of its internal organization and management to those charged with its administration.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Associate development organization" means a local economic development nonprofit corporation.

(2) "Department" means the department of economic and community development.

(3) "Director" means the director of the department of economic and community development.

(4) "Small business" means any business entity, including a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, that is owned and operated independently from all other businesses, that has the purpose of making a profit, and that has fifty or fewer employees.

(5) "Distressed area" has the meaning in RCW 43.165.010.

(6) "Impact area" means (a) distressed counties as defined in RCW 43.165.010(3)(a); (b) subcounty areas in those counties which are not covered under (a) of this subsection which are timber impact areas as defined in RCW 43.31.601; (c) urban subcounty areas as defined in RCW 43.165.010(3)(c); and (d) areas not currently experiencing economic distress which the department anticipates as likely to experience distress in the near future, such as areas experiencing defense budget reductions or suffering dislocations from natural resource issues such as salmon recovery.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A state department of economic and community development is created. The department shall be vested with all powers and duties established or transferred to it under this chapter and such other powers and duties as may be authorized by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The executive head of the department shall be the director. The director shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The director shall be paid a salary to be fixed by the governor in accordance with RCW 43.03.040.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) The director shall supervise and administer the activities of the department and shall advise the governor and the legislature with respect to economic and community development matters affecting the state.

(a) The director may:

(i) Enter into contracts on behalf of the state to carry out the purposes of this chapter;

(ii) Act for the state in the initiation of or participation in any multigovernmental program relative to the purpose of this chapter; and

(iii) Accept gifts and grants, whether such grants be of federal or other funds;

(b) The director shall:

(i) Appoint such deputy directors, assistant directors, and up to seven special assistants as may be needed to administer the department. These employees are exempt from the provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW;

(ii) Prepare and submit for executive and legislative action on the budget for the department;

(iii) Submit recommendations for legislative actions as are deemed necessary to further the purposes of this chapter; and

(iv) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW and perform all other functions necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(2) When federal or other funds are received by the department, they shall be promptly transferred to the state treasurer and thereafter expended only upon the approval of the director.

(3) The director may request information and assistance from all other agencies, departments, and officials of the state, and may reimburse such agencies, departments, or officials if such a request imposes any additional expenses upon any such agency, department, or official.

(4) The director shall, in carrying out the responsibilities of office, consult with governmental officials, private groups, and individuals and with officials of other states, and may, if the director deems it desirable, hold public hearings to obtain information to carry out the purposes of this chapter. All state agencies and their officials and the officials of any political subdivision of the state shall cooperate with and give such assistance to the department, including the submission of requested information, to allow the department to carry out its purposes under this chapter.

(5) The director may establish additional advisory or coordinating groups with the legislature, within state government, with state and other governmental units, with the private sector and nonprofit entities or in specialized subject areas as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The internal affairs of the department shall be under the control of the director in order that the director may manage the department in a flexible and intelligent manner as dictated by changing contemporary circumstances. Unless specifically limited by law, the director shall have complete charge and supervisory powers over the department. The director may create such administrative structures as the director deems appropriate, except as otherwise specified by law, and the director may employ such personnel as may be necessary in accordance with chapter 41.06 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The department shall be responsible for promoting community and economic development within the state by assisting the state's communities to increase their quality of life and economic vitality and the state's businesses to maintain and increase their economic competitiveness, while maintaining a healthy environment. Community and economic development efforts shall include: Efforts to increase economic opportunity; local planning to accommodate growth while maintaining a healthy environment; the promotion and provision of affordable housing and providing public infrastructure; business and trade development and assisting firms and industrial sectors to increase their competitiveness; technology development, transfer, and diffusion; community services; and public and public safety efforts. The department shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

(1) Provide advisory assistance to the governor, other state agencies, and the legislature on community and economic development matters and issues;

(2) Assist the governor in coordinating the activities of state agencies that have an impact on local government and communities;

(3) Cooperate with the legislature and the governor in the development and implementation of strategic plans for the state's community and economic development efforts;

(4) Provide technical and financial assistance to local governments, businesses and community-based organizations serving the communities of the state for the purpose of aiding and encouraging orderly, productive, and coordinated development of the state, and, unless stipulated otherwise, give priority to local communities with the greatest relative need and the fewest resources;

(5) Solicit private and federal grants for economic and community development programs and administer such programs in conjunction with other programs assigned to the department by the governor or the legislature;

(6) Administer community services programs directed to the poor and infirm through private, nonprofit organizations and units of general purpose local government and coordinate these programs with other community and economic development and self-sufficiency efforts of the department;

(7) Undertake business development and retention efforts in coordination with other state agencies, local governments, tribal governments, and public and private local development groups seeking new business investment and the expansion and retention of existing businesses, including providing assistance to local organizations to resolve environmental and natural resource issues related to economic development;

(8) Identify and work with Washington businesses that can use local, state, and federal assistance to increase domestic and foreign exports and that are capable of increasing production of goods and services;

(9) Market the state's products and services internationally in close cooperation with other private and public international trade efforts and act as a centralized location for the assimilation and distribution of trade information;

(10) Assist in the production, development, rehabilitation, and operation of owner-occupied or rental housing for low and moderate-income persons, and qualify as a participating state agency for all programs of the federal department of housing and urban development or its successor;

(11) Participate with other states or subdivisions thereof in interstate programs and assist cities, counties, municipal corporations, governmental conferences or councils, and regional planning commissions to participate with other states and provinces or their subdivisions;

(12) Hold public hearings and meetings to carry out the purposes of this chapter;

(13) Market and coordinate the attraction of visitors and conventions to the state and the expansion of the tourism industry throughout the state in cooperation with the visitor industry, as well as public and private tourism development organizations;

(14) Promote, market, and encourage growth in the production of films and videos, as well as television commercials, within the state;

(15) Administer family services and programs to promote the state's policy as provided in RCW 74.14A.025;

(16) Conduct research and analysis in furtherance of the state's economic and community development efforts including maintenance of current information on market and economic trends as they affect different industrial sectors, geographic regions, and communities with special economic problems in the state;

(17) Provide support to strengthen local capacity for controlling risk to life and property that may result from fires and emergencies, and provide a comprehensive state-level focus for fire protection services, funding, and policy;

(18) Provide for the identification and preservation of the state's historical and cultural resources;

(19) Coordinate a comprehensive state program for mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters;

(20) Promote volunteerism and citizen service as a means for accomplishing local community and economic development goals and objectives; and

(21) Assist local governments to plan for new growth while preserving environmental quality and open space.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. (1) The director of the department of trade and economic development and the director of the department of community development shall, by November 15, 1993, jointly submit a plan to the governor for the consolidation and smooth transition of the department of trade and economic development and the department of community development into the department of economic and community development so that the departments will operate as a single entity on July 1, 1994.

(2) The plan shall include:

(a) Strategies for a sectoral focus, and a targeted geographic focus in the delivery of economic and community development services;

(b) Implementation steps for the department's efforts at:

(i) Technology transfer and technology diffusion;

(ii) Self-employment assistance and entrepreneurial development;

(iii) Enhancing the participation of the state's businesses in global trade;

(iv) Linking work force training to its other community and business assistance efforts;

(v) Cooperating with the governor and the legislature in developing strategic plans;

(vi) Assisting local governments in planning;

(vii) Addressing capital gaps;

(viii) Providing small business assistance;

(ix) Marketing and promotion of Washington products;

(x) Coordination of federal, state, and local community and economic development efforts with the state;

(xi) Maximizing federal economic and community development resources within the state;

(xii) Leveraging limited state resources and broadening the base of involvement by working collaboratively with private and public institutes of higher education and other public, private, and nonprofit organizations;

(xiii) Encouraging a balance of economic growth between urban and rural areas;

(xiv) Addressing the special needs of economically disadvantaged communities and business sectors in transition; and

(xv) Increasing economic diversification.

(3) The establishment of benchmarks by which to measure progress and the evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the department's efforts.

(4) In developing this plan, the directors shall consider existing functions and programs of both agencies and make recommendations for any changes in programs and functions.

(5) In developing this plan, the directors shall establish an advisory committee, including representatives of groups using services and programs of both agencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. In the next four years after the effective date of this section, the department shall pursue the following policy objectives:

(1) Develop, promote, and support partnerships at the local and regional level between local development organizations including local governments, associate development organizations, port districts, private industry councils, chambers of commerce, community colleges, vocational institutes, technical colleges, and other institutions of higher education;

(2) Diversify the state economy in economic sectors that offer the prospect of family-wage employment through (a) the establishment of flexible networks of firms and (b) identification of problems and opportunities in industrial competitiveness;

(3) Encourage environmentally sustainable development that maintains the health of the state's environment while providing employment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) The local economic development service program is established in the department. This program shall coordinate the delivery of economic development services to local communities or regional areas. It shall promote partnerships between the public and private sectors and between state and local officials to encourage appropriate economic growth in communities throughout the state. The program shall promote local economic development by assisting businesses to start up, maintain, or expand their operations, by encouraging public infrastructure investment and private capital investment in local communities, and by expanding employment opportunities.

(2) The department's local economic development service program shall, among other things, (a) contract with associate development organizations for the delivery of economic development services to local communities or regional areas; (b) enter into interagency agreements with appropriate state agencies, such as the department of agriculture and the employment security department, to coordinate the delivery of economic development services to local communities or regional areas; (c) enter into agreements with other public organizations or institutions that provide economic development services, such as the small business development center, the Washington technology center, community colleges, vocational-technical institutes, the University of Washington, Washington State University, four-year colleges and universities, the federal small business administration, ports, and others, to coordinate the delivery of economic development services to local communities and regional areas; and (d) provide training, through contracts with public or private organizations, and other assistance to associate development organizations to the extent resources allow.

(3) The department shall coordinate economic development efforts to minimize program redundancy and maximize accessibility. The department shall work to develop links between the state and service users as well as among the service users themselves.

(4) It is the intent of the legislature that the associate development organizations contracted with under this program shall promote and coordinate, through local service agreements or other methods, the delivery of economic development services in their areas that are provided by public and private organizations, including state agencies.

(5) The legislature encourages local associate development organizations to form partnerships with other associate development organizations in their region to combine resources for better access to available services, to encourage regional delivery of state services, and to more effectively build the local capacity of communities in the region.

(6)(a) The department shall divide the state into service delivery regions. In creating these regions, the department shall consult with associate development organizations, port districts, and other local economic development entities. The department may use a challenge grant process to carry out the purposes of this section. Each region shall meet the following criteria:

(i) Each region shall have a population of no less than one hundred thousand;

(ii) Each region shall contain at least one institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016; and

(iii) Each region shall have organizations and resources capable of supporting the delivery of community and economic development services to all parts of the region.

The department shall minimize problems of accessibility to services that result from a geographically large region, and maximize commonalities between the communities in the region.

(b) In each service delivery region the department shall contract with one associate development organization or a consortium of such organizations, or another appropriate locally based organization to coordinate the delivery of economic development services within the region. The contracting organization shall work with local governments, associate development organizations, local chambers of commerce, private industry councils, port districts, labor groups, institutions of higher education, community action programs, and other appropriate private, public, or nonprofit community and economic development groups within the region and shall involve them in the planning for and delivery of economic and community development services required by this section.

The contracting organization shall designate five traded sectors of the region's economy that represent the five most significant sectors within the region. The contracting organization shall survey businesses and employees in these sectors on an annual basis to gather information on the sector's business needs, expansion plans, relocation decisions, training needs, potential layoffs, financing needs, availability of financing, and other appropriate information about economic trends and specific employer and employee needs in the region. The results of these surveys shall be compiled by the department.

The contracting organization shall be responsible for coordinating the delivery of those public or private training and technical assistance services required by the businesses and employees in the targeted sectors within its region, as indicated by survey responses. Such services shall include entrepreneurial training, job skills training, production process analysis, product development assistance, marketing, and financial and other management services. The contracting organization shall develop a list of individuals and firms qualified to meet specialized training or business development needs.

The department's selection of contracting organizations or consortiums shall be based on the sufficiency of the organization's or consortium's proposal to carry out the survey of targeted sectors within its region and coordinate the delivery of training and technical assistance as required by this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. The department shall work with private sector organizations, local governments, local economic development organizations, and institutions of higher education to assist in the development of a targeted sectors program. The targeted sectors may include, but are not limited to, software, forest products, biotechnology, environmental industries, aerospace, food processing, tourism, film and video, microelectronics, new materials, robotics, and machine tools. The department shall, on a continuing basis, evaluate the potential return to the state from devoting additional resources to a targeted sectors approach to economic development and including additional sectors in its efforts. The department shall use the sectorial surveys conducted in each service delivery region in formulating its sectorial strategies and in designating new targeted sectors.

In assisting in the development of a targeted sector, the department's activities may include, but are not limited to:

(1) Conducting focus group discussions, facilitating meetings, and conducting studies to identify members of the sector, appraise the current state of the sector, and identify issues of common concern within the sector;

(2) Supporting the formation of industry associations, publications of association directories, and related efforts to create or expand the activities or industry associations;

(3) Assisting in the formation of flexible networks by providing (a) trained agency employees or private sector consultants to act as flexible network brokers and (b) funding for potential flexible network participants for the purpose of organizing or implementing a flexible network;

(4) Helping establish research consortia;

(5) Conducting joint training and education programs and developing curricula related to the specific needs of targeted sectors;

(6) Promoting cooperative market development activities;

(7) Analyzing the need, feasibility, and cost of establishing product certification and testing facilities and services; and

(8) Providing for methods of electronic communication and information dissemination among firms and groups of firms to facilitate network activity.

By January 10th of each year, the department shall report in writing on its targeted sector programs to the legislature. The department's report shall include an appraisal of the sector, activities the department has undertaken to assist in the development of each sector, and recommendations to the legislature regarding activities that the state should implement but are currently beyond the scope of the department's program or resources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. (1) The department shall establish a technical assistance and training program. The program shall be designed to increase the economic and community development skills available in local communities by providing training and funding for training for local citizens and businesses. Services shall be targeted to those communities most in need of state assistance and shall be provided in impact areas.

(2) The department shall provide direct technical assistance to local communities to strengthen their role in building their local economies. This assistance shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Identifying emerging problems in impact areas for businesses, workers, and communities and providing timely assistance;

(b) Evaluating the economic health of a community including its economic base and its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities;

(c) Assisting communities and nonprofit development entities in developing local economic development strategies, including the technical analysis necessary to carry out the strategies;

(d) Providing assistance to communities in broadening their local economic base, including providing management and financial assistance, entrepreneurial training, and assistance to firms in identifying new markets and introducing new processes;

(e) Assisting communities in responding to economic change, including supporting organizational and leadership development;

(f) Assisting local governments to facilitate the siting of businesses;

(g) Facilitating the formation of flexible networks among groups of businesses; and

(h) Providing technical and managerial assistance to small businesses including assistance in securing available financing and industrial modernization.

(3) The department shall administer a technical assistance funding pool for the delivery to impact areas of the technical assistance identified in this section.

(4) The department shall establish a community development training institute to provide intensive economic and community development skills training to local communities.

(5) The department shall establish an entrepreneurial development institute using a competitive bidding process among educational institutions and nonprofit development organizations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. (1) To provide local communities with flexible sources of funding and client-based community and economic development programs, the department shall establish and operate a local development grant program. The program shall coordinate funding for eligible projects with other federal, state, local, private and nonprofit funding sources. Federal community development block grant funds administered by the state shall be administered in conjunction with this program and the department shall, within federal guidelines, give priority to economic development projects in the use of community development block grant funds.

(2) To be eligible to receive funds under this program an organization must be a local government, community-based organization, nonprofit development organization, port district, or Indian tribe. Any local government, associate development organization, or port district requesting funds shall demonstrate the participation of a cultural, economic, and ethnic cross-section of the local community in the project, including business, labor, and educational institutions.

(3) In awarding grants under this program, preference shall be given to efforts that have the prospect of resulting in long-term, family-wage employment, to development that is environmentally sustainable, and to projects that are developed and supported jointly with nonstate partners. Funds shall not be used for entertainment or hosting. Funds granted for economic development projects require a contribution of local funds or resources to the project. No less than twenty-five percent of available grant funds awarded yearly under this program shall be awarded to nonprofit, community-based organizations, and no less than twenty-five percent of available grant funds awarded yearly under this program shall be awarded to associate development organizations.

(4) The grant program shall include the use of available community development block grant funds, loan fund or reserve fund resources to make grants to local development organizations for the establishment of revolving loan funds for microloans to low-income individuals wishing to become self-employed. Such grants shall be conditioned on the local development organization's (a) operating a structured entrepreneurial training program for its low-income clients and (b) requiring participation in the training program before awarding a microloan to those desiring a microloan.

Sec. 15. RCW 28C.18.060 and 1991 c 238 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

The board, in cooperation with the operating agencies of the state training system shall:

(1) Concentrate its major efforts on planning, coordination evaluation, policy analysis, and recommending improvements to the state's training system.

(2) Advocate for the state training system and for meeting the needs of employers and the work force for work force education and training.

(3) Establish and maintain an inventory of the programs of the state training system, and related state programs, and perform a biennial assessment of the vocational education, training, and adult basic education and literacy needs of the state; identify ongoing and strategic education needs; and assess the extent to which employment, training, vocational and basic education, rehabilitation services, and public assistance services represent a consistent, integrated approach to meet such needs.

(4) Develop and maintain a state comprehensive plan for work force training and education, including but not limited to, goals, objectives, and priorities for the state training system, and review the state training system for consistency with the state comprehensive plan. In developing the state comprehensive plan for work force training and education, the board shall use, but shall not be limited to: Economic, labor market, and populations trends reports in office of financial management forecasts; joint office of financial management and employment security department labor force, industry employment, and occupational forecasts; the results of scientifically based outcome, net-impact and cost-benefit evaluations; the needs of employers as evidenced in formal employer surveys and other employer input; and the needs of program participants and workers as evidenced in formal surveys and other input from program participants and the labor community.

(5) In consultation with the higher education coordinating board, review and make recommendations to the office of financial management and the legislature on operating and capital facilities budget requests for operating agencies of the state training system for purposes of consistency with the state comprehensive plan for work force training and education.

(6) Provide for coordination among the different operating agencies of the state training system at the state level and at the regional level.

(7) Develop a consistent and reliable data base on vocational education enrollments, costs, program activities, and job placements from publicly funded vocational education programs in this state.

(8) Establish standards for data collection and maintenance for the operating agencies of the state training system in a format that is accessible to use by the board. The board shall require a minimum of common core data to be collected by each operating agency of the state training system.

The board shall develop requirements for minimum common core data in consultation with the office of financial management and the operating agencies of the training system.

(9) Establish minimum standards for program evaluation for the operating agencies of the state training system, including, but not limited to, the use of common survey instruments and procedures for measuring perceptions of program participants and employers of program participants, and monitor such program evaluation.

(10) Every two years administer scientifically based outcome evaluations of the state training system, including, but not limited to, surveys of program participants, surveys of employers of program participants, and matches with employment security department payroll and wage files. Every five years administer scientifically based net-impact and cost-benefit evaluations of the state training system.

(11) In cooperation with the employment security department, provide for the improvement and maintenance of quality and utility in occupational information and forecasts for use in training system planning and evaluation. Improvements shall include, but not be limited to, development of state-based occupational change factors involving input by employers and employees, and delineation of skill and training requirements by education level associated with current and forecasted occupations.

(12) Provide for the development of common course description formats, common reporting requirements, and common definitions for operating agencies of the training system.

(13) Provide for effectiveness and efficiency reviews of the state training system.

(14) In cooperation with the higher education coordinating board, facilitate transfer of credit policies and agreements between institutions of the state training system, and encourage articulation agreements for programs encompassing two years of secondary work force education and two years of postsecondary work force education.

(15) In cooperation with the higher education coordinating board, facilitate transfer of credit policies and agreements between private training institutions and institutions of the state training system.

(16) Participate in the development of coordination criteria for activities under the job training partnership act with related programs and services provided by state and local education and training agencies.

(17) Make recommendations to the commission of student assessment, the state board of education, and the superintendent of public instruction, concerning basic skill competencies and essential core competencies for K‑12 education. Basic skills for this purpose shall be reading, writing, computation, speaking, and critical thinking, essential core competencies for this purpose shall be English, math, science/technology, history, geography, and critical thinking. The board shall monitor the development of and provide advice concerning secondary curriculum which integrates vocational and academic education.

(18) Establish and administer programs for marketing and outreach to businesses and potential program participants.

(19) Facilitate the location of support services, including but not limited to, child care, financial aid, career counseling, and job placement services, for students and trainees at institutions in the state training system, and advocate for support services for trainees and students in the state training system.

(20) Facilitate private sector assistance for the state training system, including but not limited to: Financial assistance, rotation of private and public personnel, and vocational counseling.

(21) Facilitate programs for school-to-work transition that combine classroom education and on-the-job training in industries and occupations without a significant number of apprenticeship programs.

(22) Encourage and assess progress for the equitable representation of racial and ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities among the students, teachers, and administrators of the state training system. Equitable, for this purpose, shall mean substantially proportional to their percentage of the state population in the geographic area served. This function of the board shall in no way lessen more stringent state or federal requirements for representation of racial and ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities.

(23) Participate in the planning and policy development of governor set-aside grants under P.L. 97‑300, as amended.

(24) Administer veterans' programs, licensure of private vocational schools, the job skills program, and the Washington award for vocational excellence.

(25) Allocate funding from the state job training trust fund.

(26) Work with the director of the department of economic and community development to ensure the coordination of work force training efforts with that department's technology diffusion, self-employment, and business start-up efforts.

(27) Adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter.

The board may delegate to the director any of the functions of this section.

Sec. 16. RCW 43.17.010 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 810 are each amended to read as follows:

There shall be departments of the state government which shall be known as (1) the department of social and health services, (2) the department of ecology, (3) the department of labor and industries, (4) the department of agriculture, (5) the department of fisheries, (6) the department of wildlife, (7) the department of transportation, (8) the department of licensing, (9) the department of general administration, (10) the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development, (11) the department of veterans affairs, (12) the department of revenue, (13) the department of retirement systems, (14) the department of corrections, and (15) ((~~the department of community development, and (16)~~)) the department of health, which shall be charged with the execution, enforcement, and administration of such laws, and invested with such powers and required to perform such duties, as the legislature may provide.

Sec. 17. RCW 43.17.020 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 811 are each amended to read as follows:

There shall be a chief executive officer of each department to be known as: (1) The secretary of social and health services, (2) the director of ecology, (3) the director of labor and industries, (4) the director of agriculture, (5) the director of fisheries, (6) the director of wildlife, (7) the secretary of transportation, (8) the director of licensing, (9) the director of general administration, (10) the director of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development, (11) the director of veterans affairs, (12) the director of revenue, (13) the director of retirement systems, (14) the secretary of corrections, and (15) ((~~the director of community development, and (16)~~)) the secretary of health.

Such officers, except the secretary of transportation, shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, and hold office at the pleasure of the governor. The director of wildlife, however, shall be appointed according to the provisions of RCW 77.04.080. If a vacancy occurs while the senate is not in session, the governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the senate. A temporary director of wildlife shall not serve more than one year. The secretary of transportation shall be appointed by the transportation commission as prescribed by RCW 47.01.041.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. The department of community development is hereby abolished and its powers, duties, and functions are hereby transferred to the department of economic and community development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the department of community development shall be delivered to the custody of the department of economic and community development. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the department of community development shall be made available to the department of economic and community development. All funds, credits, or other assets held by the department of community development shall be assigned to the department of economic and community development.

Any appropriations made to the department of community development shall, on the effective date of this section, be transferred and credited to the department of economic and community development.

Whenever any question arises as to the transfer of any personnel, funds, books, documents, records, papers, files, equipment, or other tangible property used or held in the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties and functions transferred, the director of financial management shall make a determination as to the proper allocation and certify the same to the state agencies concerned.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. All employees of the department of community development are transferred to the jurisdiction of the department of economic and community development. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the department of economic and community development to perform their usual duties upon the same terms as formerly, without any loss of rights, subject to any action that may be appropriate thereafter in accordance with the laws and rules governing state civil service.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 21. All rules and all pending business before the department of community development shall be continued and acted upon by the department of economic and community development. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the department of economic and community development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 22. The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the department of community development shall not affect the validity of any act performed prior to the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 23. If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by sections 19 through 22 of this act, the director of financial management shall certify the apportionments to the agencies affected, the state auditor, and the state treasurer. Each of these shall make the appropriate transfer and adjustments in funds and appropriation accounts and equipment records in accordance with the certification.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 24. Nothing contained in sections 18 through 23 of this act may be construed to alter any existing collective bargaining unit or the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreement until the agreement has expired or until the bargaining unit has been modified by action of the personnel board as provided by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 25. The department of trade and economic development is hereby abolished and its powers, duties, and functions are hereby transferred to the department of economic and community development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 26. All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the department of trade and economic development shall be delivered to the custody of the department of economic and community development. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the department of trade and economic development shall be made available to the department of economic and community development. All funds, credits, or other assets held by the department of trade and economic development shall be assigned to the department of economic and community development.

Any appropriations made to the department of trade and economic development shall, on the effective date of this section, be transferred and credited to the department of economic and community development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 27. All employees of the department of trade and economic development are transferred to the jurisdiction of the department of economic and community development. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the department of economic and community development to perform their usual duties upon the same terms as formerly, without any loss of rights, subject to any action that may be appropriate thereafter in accordance with the laws and rules governing state civil service.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 28. All rules and all pending business before the department of trade and economic development shall be continued and acted upon by the department of economic and community development. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the department of economic and community development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 29. The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the department of trade and economic development shall not affect the validity of any act performed prior to the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 30. If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by sections 26 through 29 of this act, the director of financial management shall certify the apportionments to the agencies affected, the state auditor, and the state treasurer. Each of these shall make the appropriate transfer and adjustments in funds and appropriation accounts and equipment records in accordance with the certification.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 31. Nothing contained in sections 25 through 30 of this act may be construed to alter any existing collective bargaining unit or the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreement until the agreement has expired or until the bargaining unit has been modified by action of the personnel board as provided by law.

Sec. 32. RCW 19.85.020 and 1989 c 374 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the definitions in this section apply through this chapter.

(1) "Small business" has the meaning given in ((~~RCW 43.31.025(4)~~)) section 3 of this act.

(2) "Small business economic impact statement" means a statement meeting the requirements of RCW 19.85.040 prepared by a state agency pursuant to RCW 19.85.030.

(3) "Industry" means all of the businesses in this state in any one three-digit standard industrial classification as published by the United States department of commerce.

Sec. 33. RCW 42.17.310 and 1992 c 139 s 5 and 1992 c 71 s 12 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The following are exempt from public inspection and copying:

(a) Personal information in any files maintained for students in public schools, patients or clients of public institutions or public health agencies, or welfare recipients.

(b) Personal information in files maintained for employees, appointees, or elected officials of any public agency to the extent that disclosure would violate their right to privacy.

(c) Information required of any taxpayer in connection with the assessment or collection of any tax if the disclosure of the information to other persons would (i) be prohibited to such persons by RCW 82.32.330 or (ii) violate the taxpayer's right to privacy or result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer.

(d) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records compiled by investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, and state agencies vested with the responsibility to discipline members of any profession, the nondisclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement or for the protection of any person's right to privacy.

(e) Information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime or who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, or penology agencies, other than the public disclosure commission, if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property. If at the time a complaint is filed the complainant, victim or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure, such desire shall govern. However, all complaints filed with the public disclosure commission about any elected official or candidate for public office must be made in writing and signed by the complainant under oath.

(f) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination.

(g) Except as provided by chapter 8.26 RCW, the contents of real estate appraisals, made for or by any agency relative to the acquisition or sale of property, until the project or prospective sale is abandoned or until such time as all of the property has been acquired or the property to which the sale appraisal relates is sold, but in no event shall disclosure be denied for more than three years after the appraisal.

(h) Valuable formulae, designs, drawings, and research data obtained by any agency within five years of the request for disclosure when disclosure would produce private gain and public loss.

(i) Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended except that a specific record shall not be exempt when publicly cited by an agency in connection with any agency action.

(j) Records which are relevant to a controversy to which an agency is a party but which records would not be available to another party under the rules of pretrial discovery for causes pending in the superior courts.

(k) Records, maps, or other information identifying the location of archaeological sites in order to avoid the looting or depredation of such sites.

(l) Any library record, the primary purpose of which is to maintain control of library materials, or to gain access to information, which discloses or could be used to disclose the identity of a library user.

(m) Financial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of qualifying to submit a bid or proposal for (a) a ferry system construction or repair contract as required by RCW 47.60.680 through 47.60.750 or (b) highway construction or improvement as required by RCW 47.28.070.

(n) Railroad company contracts filed prior to July 28, 1991, with the utilities and transportation commission under RCW 81.34.070, except that the summaries of the contracts are open to public inspection and copying as otherwise provided by this chapter.

(o) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by private persons pertaining to export services provided pursuant to chapter 43.163 RCW and chapter 53.31 RCW.

(p) Financial disclosures filed by private vocational schools under chapter 28C.10 RCW.

(q) Records filed with the utilities and transportation commission or attorney general under RCW 80.04.095 that a court has determined are confidential under RCW 80.04.095.

(r) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by businesses during application for loans or program services provided by chapters 43.163 ((~~RCW and chapters 43.31, 43.63A~~)), 43.-- (sections 1 through 8, 10 through 14, and 76 of this act), and 43.168 RCW.

(s) Membership lists or lists of members or owners of interests of units in timeshare projects, subdivisions, camping resorts, condominiums, land developments, or common-interest communities affiliated with such projects, regulated by the department of licensing, in the files or possession of the department.

(t) All applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant.

(u) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of employees or volunteers of a public agency which are held by the agency in personnel records, employment or volunteer rosters, or mailing lists of employees or volunteers.

(v) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of the customers of a public utility contained in the records or lists held by the public utility of which they are customers.

(w) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy as provided in RCW 69.45.090.

(x) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy or the department of health and its representatives as provided in RCW 69.41.044, 69.41.280, and 18.64.420.

(y) Financial information, business plans, examination reports, and any information produced or obtained in evaluating or examining a business and industrial development corporation organized or seeking certification under chapter 31.24 RCW.

(z) Financial and commercial information supplied to the state investment board by any person when the information relates to the investment of public trust or retirement funds and when disclosure would result in loss to such funds or in private loss to the providers of this information.

(aa) Financial and valuable trade information under RCW 51.36.120.

(bb) Client records maintained by an agency that is a domestic violence program as defined in RCW 70.123.020 or a rape crisis center as defined in RCW 70.125.030.

(cc) Information that identifies a person who, while an agency employee: (i) Seeks advice, under an informal process established by the employing agency, in order to ascertain his or her rights in connection with a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW against the person; and (ii) requests his or her identity or any identifying information not be disclosed.

(dd) Business related information protected from public inspection and copying under RCW 15.86.110.

(2) Except for information described in subsection (1)(c)(i) of this section and confidential income data exempted from public inspection pursuant to RCW 84.40.020, the exemptions of this section are inapplicable to the extent that information, the disclosure of which would violate personal privacy or vital governmental interests, can be deleted from the specific records sought. No exemption may be construed to permit the nondisclosure of statistical information not descriptive of any readily identifiable person or persons.

(3) Inspection or copying of any specific records exempt under the provisions of this section may be permitted if the superior court in the county in which the record is maintained finds, after a hearing with notice thereof to every person in interest and the agency, that the exemption of such records is clearly unnecessary to protect any individual's right of privacy or any vital governmental function.

(4) Agency responses refusing, in whole or in part, inspection of any public record shall include a statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record (or part) and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld.

Sec. 34. RCW 42.17.319 and 1989 c 312 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 42.17.260 through 42.17.340, no financial or proprietary information supplied by investors or entrepreneurs under chapter ((~~43.31~~)) 43.-- RCW (sections 1 through 8, 10 through 14, and 76 of this act) shall be made available to the public.

Sec. 35. RCW 43.17.065 and 1991 c 314 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Where power is vested in a department to issue permits, licenses, certifications, contracts, grants, or otherwise authorize action on the part of individuals, businesses, local governments, or public or private organizations, such power shall be exercised in an expeditious manner. All departments with such power shall cooperate with officials of the business assistance center of the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development, and any other state officials, when such officials request timely action on the part of the issuing department.

(2) After August 1, 1991, any agency to which subsection (1) of this section applies shall, with regard to any permits or other actions that are necessary for economic development in timber impact areas, as defined in RCW 43.31.601, respond to any completed application within forty-five days of its receipt; any response, at a minimum, shall include:

(a) The specific steps that the applicant needs to take in order to have the application approved; and

(b) The assistance that will be made available to the applicant by the agency to expedite the application process.

(3) The agency timber task force established in RCW 43.31.621 shall oversee implementation of this section.

(4) Each agency shall define what constitutes a completed application and make this definition available to applicants.

Sec. 36. RCW 43.20A.750 and 1992 c 21 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of social and health services shall help families and workers in timber impact areas make the transition through economic difficulties and shall provide services to assist workers to gain marketable skills. The department, as a member of the agency timber task force and in consultation with the economic recovery coordination board, and, where appropriate, under an interagency agreement with the department of economic and community development, shall provide grants through the office of the secretary for services to the unemployed in timber impact areas, including providing direct or referral services, establishing and operating service delivery programs, and coordinating delivery programs and delivery of services. These grants may be awarded for family support centers, reemployment centers, or other local service agencies.

(2) The services provided through the grants may include, but need not be limited to: Credit counseling; social services including marital counseling; psychotherapy or psychological counseling; mortgage foreclosures and utilities problems counseling; drug and alcohol abuse services; medical services; and residential heating and food acquisition.

(3) Funding for these services shall be coordinated through the economic recovery coordination board which will establish a fund to provide child care assistance, mortgage assistance, and counseling which cannot be met through current programs. No funds shall be used for additional full-time equivalents for administering this section.

(4)(a) Grants for family support centers are intended to provide support to families by responding to needs identified by the families and communities served by the centers. Services provided by family support centers may include parenting education, child development assessments, health and nutrition education, counseling, and information and referral services. Such services may be provided directly by the center or through referral to other agencies participating in the interagency team.

(b) The department shall consult with the council on child abuse or neglect regarding grants for family support centers.

(5) "Timber impact area" means:

(a) A county having a population of less than five hundred thousand, or a city or town located within a county having a population of less than five hundred thousand, and meeting two of the following three criteria, as determined by the employment security department, for the most recent year such data is available: (i) A lumber and wood products employment location quotient at or above the state average; (ii) projected or actual direct lumber and wood products job losses of one hundred positions or more, except counties having a population greater than two hundred thousand but less than five hundred thousand must have direct lumber and wood products job losses of one thousand positions or more; or (iii) an annual unemployment rate twenty percent or more above the state average; or

(b) Additional communities as the economic recovery coordinating board, established in RCW 43.31.631, designates based on a finding by the board that each designated community is socially and economically integrated with areas that meet the definition of a timber impact area under (a) of this subsection.

Sec. 37. RCW 43.31.057 and 1986 c 183 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development is directed to develop and promote means to stimulate the expansion of the market for Washington products and shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To develop a pamphlet for state-wide circulation which will encourage the purchase of items produced in the state of Washington;

(2) To include in the pamphlet a listing of products of Washington companies which individuals can examine when making purchases so they may have the opportunity to select one of those products in support of this program;

(3) To distribute the pamphlets on the broadest possible basis through local offices of state agencies, business organizations, chambers of commerce, or any other means the department deems appropriate;

(4) In carrying out these powers and duties the department shall cooperate and coordinate with other agencies of government and the private sector.

Sec. 38. RCW 43.31.085 and 1989 c 430 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The business assistance center shall:

(1) Serve as the state's lead agency and advocate for the development and conservation of businesses.

(2) Coordinate the delivery of state programs to assist businesses.

(3) Provide comprehensive referral services to businesses requiring government assistance.

(4) Serve as the business ombudsman within state government and advise the governor and the legislature of the need for new legislation to improve the effectiveness of state programs to assist businesses.

(5) Aggressively promote business awareness of the state's business programs and distribute information on the services available to businesses.

(6) Develop, in concert with local economic development and business assistance organizations, coordinated processes that complement both state and local activities and services.

(7) The business assistance center shall work with other federal, state, and local agencies and organizations to ensure that business assistance services including small business, trade services, and distressed area programs are provided in a coordinated and cost-effective manner.

(8) In collaboration with the child care coordinating committee in the department of social and health services, prepare and disseminate information on child care options for employers and the existence of the program. As much as possible, and through interagency agreements where necessary, such information should be included in the routine communications to employers from (a) the department of revenue, (b) the department of labor and industries, (c) ((~~the department of community development, (d)~~)) the employment security department, ((~~(e)~~)) (d) the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development, ((~~(f)~~)) (e) the small business development center, and ((~~(g)~~)) (f) the department of social and health services.

(9) In collaboration with the child care coordinating committee in the department of social and health services, compile information on and facilitate employer access to individuals, firms, organizations, and agencies that provide technical assistance to employers to enable them to develop and support child care services or facilities.

(10) Actively seek public and private money to support the child care facility fund described in RCW 43.31.502, staff and assist the child care facility fund committee as described in RCW 43.31.504, and work to promote applications to the committee for loan guarantees, loans, and grants.

Sec. 39. RCW 43.31.205 and 1992 c 228 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

In an effort to enhance the economy of the Tri-Cities area, the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development is directed to promote the existence of the lease between the state of Washington and the federal government executed September 10, 1964, covering one thousand acres of land lying within the Hanford reservation near Richland, Washington, and the opportunity of subleasing the land to entities for nuclear-related industry, in agreement with the terms of the lease. When promoting the existence of the lease, the department shall work in cooperation with any associate development organization((s)) located in or near the Tri-Cities area.

Sec. 40. RCW 43.31.409 and 1989 c 312 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

There is created in the business assistance center of the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development the Washington investment opportunities office.

Sec. 41. RCW 43.31.411 and 1989 c 312 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The Washington investment opportunities office shall:

(1) Maintain a list of all entrepreneurs engaged in manufacturing, wholesaling, transportation services, development of destination tourism resorts, or traded services throughout the state seeking capital resources and interested in the services of the investment opportunities office.

(2) Maintain a file on each entrepreneur which may include the entrepreneur's business plan and any other information which the entrepreneur offers for review by potential investors.

(3) Assist entrepreneurs in procuring the managerial and technical assistance necessary to attract potential investors. Such assistance shall include the automatic referral to the small business innovators opportunity program of any entrepreneur with a new product meriting the services of the program.

(4) Provide entrepreneurs with information about potential investors and provide investors with information about those entrepreneurs which meet the investment criteria of the investor.

(5) Promote small business securities financing.

(6) Remain informed about investment trends in capital markets and preferences of individual investors or investment firms throughout the nation through literature surveys, conferences, and private meetings.

(7) Publicize the services of the investment opportunities office through public meetings throughout the state, appropriately targeted media, and private meetings. Whenever practical, the office shall use the existing services of local associate development organizations in outreach and identification of entrepreneurs and investors.

(8) Report to the ways and means committees and ((~~commerce and labor~~)) appropriate economic development committees of the senate and the house of representatives by December 1, 1989, and each year thereafter, on the accomplishments of the office. Such reports shall include:

(a) The number of entrepreneurs on the list referred to in subsection (1) of this section, segregated by standard industrial classification codes;

(b) The number of investments made in entrepreneurs, segregated as required by (a) of this subsection, as a result of contact with the investment opportunities office, the dollar amount of each such investment, the source, by state or nation, of each investment, and the number of jobs created as a result of each investment;

(c) The number of entrepreneurs on the list referred to in subsection (1) of this section segregated by counties, the number of investments, the dollar amount of investments, and the number of jobs created through investments in each county as a result of contact with the investment opportunities office;

(d) A categorization of jobs created through investments made as a result of contact with the investment opportunities office, the number of jobs created in each such category, and the average pay scale for jobs created in each such category;

(e) The results of client satisfaction surveys distributed to entrepreneurs and investors using the services of the investment opportunities office; and

(f) Such other information as the managing director finds appropriate.

Sec. 42. RCW 43.31.422 and 1991 c 272 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

The Hanford area economic investment fund is established in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys in the fund shall only be used pursuant to the recommendations of the committee created in RCW 43.31.425 and the approval of the director of the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development for Hanford area revolving loan funds, Hanford area infrastructure projects, or other Hanford area economic development and diversification projects, but may not be used for government or nonprofit organization operating expenses. Up to five percent of moneys in the fund may be used for program administration. For the purpose of this chapter "Hanford area" means Benton and Franklin counties. Disbursements from the fund shall be on the authorization of the director of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development or the director's designee after an affirmative vote of at least six members of the committee created in RCW 43.31.425 on any recommendations by the committee created in RCW 43.31.425. The fund is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements. The legislature intends to establish similar economic investment funds for areas that develop low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities.

Sec. 43. RCW 43.31.504 and 1989 c 430 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The child care facility fund committee is established within the business assistance center of the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development. The committee shall administer the child care facility fund, with review by the director of the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development.

(1) The committee shall have five members. The director of the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development shall appoint the members, who shall include:

(a) Two persons experienced in investment finance and having skills in providing capital to new businesses, in starting and operating businesses, and providing professional services to small or expanding businesses;

(b) One person representing a philanthropic organization with experience in evaluating funding requests;

(d) One early childhood development expert.

In making these appointments, the director shall give careful consideration to ensure that the various geographic regions of the state are represented and that members will be available for meetings and are committed to working cooperatively to address child care needs in Washington state.

(2) The committee shall elect officers from among its membership and shall adopt policies and procedures specifying the lengths of terms, methods for filling vacancies, and other matters necessary to the ongoing functioning of the committee.

(3) Committee members shall serve without compensation, but may request reimbursement for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

(4) Committee members shall not be liable to the state, to the child care facility fund, or to any other person as a result of their activities, whether ministerial or discretionary, as members except for willful dishonesty or intentional violation of the law. The department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development may purchase liability insurance for members and may indemnify these persons against the claims of others.

Sec. 44. RCW 43.31.522 and 1990 c 57 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 43.31.524 and 43.31.526:

(1) "Department" means the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development.

(2) "Center" means the business assistance center established under RCW 43.31.083.

(3) "Director" means the director of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development.

(4) "Local nonprofit organization" means a local nonprofit organization organized to provide economic development or community development services, including but not limited to associate development organizations, economic development councils, and community development corporations.

Sec. 45. RCW 43.31.524 and 1990 c 57 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

There is established a Washington marketplace program within the business assistance center established under RCW 43.31.083. The program shall assist businesses to competitively meet their needs for goods and services within Washington state by providing information relating to the replacement of imports or the fulfillment of new requirements with Washington products produced in Washington state. The program shall place special emphasis on strengthening rural economies in economically distressed areas of the state meeting the criteria of an "eligible area" as defined in RCW 82.60.020(3). ((~~The Washington marketplace program shall consult with the community revitalization team established pursuant to chapter 43.165 RCW.~~))

Sec. 46. RCW 43.31.526 and 1990 c 57 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall contract with local nonprofit organizations in at least three economically distressed areas of the state that meet the criteria of an "eligible area" as defined in RCW 82.60.020(3) to implement the Washington marketplace program in these areas. The department, in order to foster cooperation and linkages between distressed and nondistressed areas and urban and rural areas, may enter into joint contracts with multiple nonprofit organizations. Contracts with economic development organizations to foster cooperation and linkages between distressed and nondistressed areas and urban and rural areas shall be structured by the department and the distressed area marketplace programs. Contracts with economic development organizations shall:

(a) Award contracts based on a competitive bidding process, pursuant to chapter 43.19 RCW;

(b) Give preference to nonprofit organizations representing a broad spectrum of community support; and

The department may require that contractors contribute at least twenty percent local funding.

(2) The contracts with local nonprofit organizations shall be for, but not limited to, the performance of the following services for the Washington marketplace program:

(a) Contacting Washington state businesses to identify goods and services they are currently buying or are planning in the future to buy out-of-state and determine which of these goods and services could be purchased on competitive terms within the state;

(b) Identifying locally sold goods and services which are currently provided by out-of-state businesses;

(c) Determining, in consultation with local business, goods and services for which the business is willing to make contract agreements;

(d) Advertising market opportunities described in (c) of this subsection; and

(e) Receiving bid responses from potential suppliers and sending them to that business for final selection.

(3) Contracts may include provisions for charging service fees of businesses that profit as a result of participation in the program.

(4) The center shall also perform the following activities in order to promote the goals of the program:

(a) Prepare promotional materials or conduct seminars to inform communities and organizations about the Washington marketplace program;

(b) Provide technical assistance to communities and organizations interested in developing an import replacement program;

(d) Provide continuing management and technical assistance to local contractors; and

(e) Report by December 31 of each year to the ((~~senate~~)) appropriate economic development ((~~and labor committee and to~~)) committees of the senate and the house of representatives ((~~trade and economic development committee~~)) describing the activities of the Washington marketplace program.

Sec. 47. RCW 43.31.621 and 1991 c 314 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is established the agency timber task force. The task force shall be chaired by the timber recovery coordinator. It shall be the responsibility of the coordinator that all directives of chapter 314, Laws of 1991 are carried out expeditiously by the agencies represented in the task force. The task force shall consist of the directors, or representatives of the directors, of the following agencies: The department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic ((~~development, department of~~)) and community development, employment security department, department of social and health services, state board for community college education, state board for vocational education, or its replacement entity, department of natural resources, department of transportation, state energy office, department of wildlife, University of Washington center for international trade in forest products, and department of ecology. The task force may consult and enlist the assistance of the following: The higher education coordinating board, University of Washington college of forest resources, Washington State University school of forestry, Northwest policy center, state superintendent of public instruction, the Evergreen partnership, Washington association of counties, and rural development council.

(2) This section shall expire June 30, 1993.

Sec. 48. RCW 43.31.641 and 1991 c 314 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development, as a member of the agency timber task force and in consultation with the board, shall:

(1) Implement an expanded value-added forest products development industrial extension program. The department shall provide technical assistance to small and medium-sized forest products companies to include:

(a) Secondary manufacturing product development;

(b) Plant and equipment maintenance;

(d) Building products export development assistance;

(e) At-risk business development assistance;

(f) Business network development; and

(g) Timber impact area industrial diversification.

(2) Provide local contracts for small and medium-sized forest product companies, start-ups, and business organizations for business feasibility, market development, and business network contracts that will benefit value-added production efforts in the industry.

(3) Contract with local business organizations in timber impact areas for development of programs to promote industrial diversification. ((In addition, the department shall develop an interagency agreement with the department of community development for local capacity-building grants to local governments and community-based organizations in timber impact areas, which may include long-range planning and needs assessments.))

(4) Implement a community assistance program to enable communities to build local capacity for sustainable economic development efforts. The program shall provide resources and technical assistance to timber impact areas.

(5) Develop and administer a program for local capacity-building grants for local governments and community-based organizations in timber impact areas that may include assistance for long-range planning and needs assessments.

For the 1991‑93 biennium, the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development shall use funds appropriated for this section for contracts and for no more than two additional staff positions.

Sec. 49. RCW 43.31.830 and 1987 c 195 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) It shall be the duty of the director of economic and community development to certify, from the applications received, the state international trade fair or fairs qualified and entitled to receive funds under RCW ((~~43.31.790 through 43.31.850 and~~)) 67.16.100, ((~~as now or hereafter amended~~)) and under rules established by the director. (2) To be eligible for state financed aid an organization shall:

(a) Have had at least two or more years of experience in the presentation of or participation in state international trade fairs; and

(b) Be able to provide, from its own resources derived from general admission or otherwise, funds sufficient to match at least one-half of the amount of state financial aid allotted.

(3) The director shall make annual allotments to state international trade fairs determined qualified to be entitled to participate in the state trade fair fund and shall fix times for the division of and payment from the state trade fair fund: PROVIDED, That total payment to any one state international trade fair shall not exceed sixty thousand dollars in any one year, where participation or presentation occurs within the United States, and eighty thousand dollars in any one year, where participation or presentation occurs outside the United States: PROVIDED FURTHER, That a state international trade fair may qualify for the full allotment of funds under either category. Upon certification of the allotment and division of fair funds by the director ((~~of trade and economic development~~)) the treasurer shall proceed to pay the same to carry out the purposes of RCW ((~~43.31.790 through 43.31.850 and~~)) 67.16.100((~~, as now or hereafter amended~~)).

Sec. 50. RCW 43.31.840 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 292 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

The director of economic and community development shall at the end of each year for which an annual allotment has been made, ((~~cause to be conducted,~~)) conduct a post audit of all of the books and records of each state international trade fair participating in the state trade fair fund. The purpose of such post audit shall be to determine how and to what extent each participating state international trade fair has expended all of its funds.

The audit required by this section shall be a condition to future allotments of money from the state international trade fair fund, and the director shall make a report of the findings of each post audit and shall use such report as a consideration in an application for any future allocations.

Sec. 51. RCW 43.31.850 and 1987 c 195 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

State international trade fair as used in RCW ((~~43.31.790 through 43.31.840 and~~)) 67.16.100((~~, as now or hereafter amended,~~)) shall mean a fair supported by public agencies basically for the purpose of introducing and promoting the sale of manufactured or cultural products and services of a given area, whether presented in this state, the United States or its territories, or in a foreign country.

Sec. 52. RCW 43.160.020 and 1992 c 21 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Board" means the community economic revitalization board.

(2) "Bond" means any bond, note, debenture, interim certificate, or other evidence of financial indebtedness issued by the board pursuant to this chapter.

(3) "Department" means the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development ((~~or its successor with respect to the powers granted by this chapter~~)).

(4) "Financial institution" means any bank, savings and loan association, credit union, development credit corporation, insurance company, investment company, trust company, savings institution, or other financial institution approved by the board and maintaining an office in the state.

(5) "Industrial development facilities" means "industrial development facilities" as defined in RCW 39.84.020.

(6) "Industrial development revenue bonds" means tax-exempt revenue bonds used to fund industrial development facilities.

(7) "Local government" means any port district, county, city, or town.

(8) "Sponsor" means any of the following entities which customarily provide service or otherwise aid in industrial or other financing and are approved as a sponsor by the board: A bank, trust company, savings bank, investment bank, national banking association, savings and loan association, building and loan association, credit union, insurance company, or any other financial institution, governmental agency, or holding company of any entity specified in this subsection.

(9) "Umbrella bonds" means industrial development revenue bonds from which the proceeds are loaned, transferred, or otherwise made available to two or more users under this chapter.

(10) "User" means one or more persons acting as lessee, purchaser, mortgagor, or borrower under a financing document and receiving or applying to receive revenues from bonds issued under this chapter.

(11) "Timber impact area" means:

Sec. 53. RCW 43.168.020 and 1991 c 314 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Committee" means the Washington state development loan fund committee.

(2) "Department" means the department of economic and community development.

(3) "Director" means the director of the department of economic and community development.

(4) "Distressed area" means: (a) A county which has an unemployment rate which is twenty percent above the state average for the immediately previous three years; (b) a metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the office of federal statistical policy and standards, United States department of commerce, in which the average level of unemployment for the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which an application is filed under this chapter exceeds the average state unemployment for such calendar year by twenty percent. Applications under this subsection (4)(b) shall be filed by April 30, 1989; (c) an area within a county, which area: (i) Is composed of contiguous census tracts; (ii) has a minimum population of five thousand persons; (iii) has at least seventy percent of its families and unrelated individuals with incomes below eighty percent of the county's median income for families and unrelated individuals; and (iv) has an unemployment rate which is at least forty percent higher than the county's unemployment rate; or (d) a county designated as a timber impact area under RCW 43.31.601 if an application is filed by July 1, 1993. For purposes of this definition, "families and unrelated individuals" has the same meaning that is ascribed to that term by the federal department of housing and urban development in its regulations authorizing action grants for economic development and neighborhood revitalization projects.

(5) "Fund" means the Washington state development loan fund.

(6) "Local development organization" means a nonprofit organization which is organized to operate within an area, demonstrates a commitment to a long-standing effort for an economic development program, and makes a demonstrable effort to assist in the employment of unemployed or underemployed residents in an area.

(7) "Project" means the establishment of a new or expanded business in an area which when completed will provide employment opportunities. "Project" also means the retention of an existing business in an area which when completed will provide employment opportunities.

Sec. 54. RCW 43.210.110 and 1991 c 314 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The small business export finance assistance center has the following powers and duties when exercising its authority under RCW 43.210.100(3):

(a) Solicit and accept grants, contributions, and any other financial assistance from the federal government, federal agencies, and any other public or private sources to carry out its purposes;

(b) Offer comprehensive export assistance and counseling to manufacturers relatively new to exporting with gross annual revenues less than twenty-five million dollars. As close to ninety percent as possible of each year's new cadre of clients must have gross annual revenues of less than five million dollars at the time of their initial contract. At least fifty percent of each year's new cadre of clients shall be from timber impact areas as defined in RCW 43.31.601. Counseling may include, but not be limited to, helping clients obtain debt or equity financing, in constructing competent proposals, and assessing federal guarantee and/or insurance programs that underwrite exporting risk; assisting clients in evaluating their international marketplace by developing marketing materials, assessing and selecting targeted markets; assisting firms in finding foreign customers by conducting foreign market research, evaluating distribution systems, selecting and assisting in identification of and/or negotiations with foreign agents, distributors, retailers, and by promoting products through attending trade shows abroad; advising companies on their products, guarantees, and after sales service requirements necessary to compete effectively in a foreign market; designing a competitive strategy for a firm's products in targeted markets and methods of minimizing their commercial and political risks; securing for clients specific assistance as needed, outside the center's field of expertise, by referrals to other public or private organizations. The Pacific Northwest export assistance project shall focus its efforts on facilitating export transactions for its clients, and in doing so, provide such technical services as are appropriate to accomplish its mission either with staff or outside consultants;

(c) Sign three-year counseling agreements with its clients that provide for termination if adequate funding for the Pacific Northwest export assistance project is not provided in future appropriations. Counseling agreements shall not be renewed unless there are compelling reasons to do so, and under no circumstances shall they be renewed for more than two additional years. A counseling agreement may not be renewed more than once. The counseling agreements shall have mutual performance clauses, that if not met, will be grounds for releasing each party, without penalty, from the provisions of the agreement. Clients shall be immediately released from a counseling agreement with the Pacific Northwest export assistance project, without penalty, if a client wishes to switch to a private export management service and produces a valid contract signed with a private export management service, or if the president of the small business export finance assistance center determines there are compelling reasons to release a client from the provisions of the counseling agreement;

(d) May contract with private or public international trade education services to provide Pacific Northwest export assistance project clients with training in international business. The president and board of directors shall decide the amount of funding allocated for educational services based on the availability of resources in the operating budget of the Pacific Northwest export assistance project;

(e) May contract with the Washington state international trade fair to provide services for Pacific Northwest export assistance project clients to participate in one trade show annually. The president and board of directors shall decide the amount of funding allocated for trade fair assistance based on the availability of resources in the operating budget of the Pacific Northwest export assistance project;

(f) Provide biennial assessments of its performance. Project personnel shall work with the department of revenue and employment security department to confidentially track the performance of the project's clients in increasing tax revenues to the state, increasing gross sales revenues and volume of products destined to foreign clients, and in creating new jobs for Washington citizens. A biennial report shall be prepared for the governor and legislature to assess the costs and benefits to the state from creating the project. The president of the small business export finance assistance center shall design an appropriate methodology for biennial assessments in consultation with the director of the department of ((~~trade and~~)) economic and community development and the director of the Washington state department of agriculture. The department of revenue and the employment security department shall provide data necessary to complete this biennial evaluation, if the data being requested is available from existing data bases. Client-specific information generated from the files of the department of revenue and the employment security department for the purposes of this evaluation shall be kept strictly confidential by each department and the small business export finance assistance center;

(g) Take whatever action may be necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth in RCW 43.210.070 and 43.210.100 through 43.210.120; and

(h) Limit its assistance to promoting the exportation of value-added manufactured goods. The project shall not provide counseling or assistance, under any circumstances, for the importation of foreign made goods into the United States.

(2) The Pacific Northwest export assistance project shall not, under any circumstances, assume ownership or take title to the goods of its clients.

(3) The Pacific Northwest export assistance project may not use any Washington state funds which come from the public treasury of the state of Washington to make loans or to make any payment under a loan guarantee agreement. Under no circumstances may the center use any funds received under RCW 43.210.050 to make or assist in making any loan or to pay or assist in paying any amount under a loan guarantee agreement. Debts of the center shall be center debts only and may be satisfied only from the resources of the center. The state of Washington shall not in any way be liable for such debts.

(4) The Pacific Northwest export assistance project shall make every effort to seek nonstate funds to supplement its operations.

(5) The Pacific Northwest export assistance project shall take whatever steps are necessary to provide its services, if requested, to the states of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Interstate services shall not be provided by the Pacific Northwest export assistance project during its first biennium of operation. The provision of services may be temporary and subject to the payment of fees, or each state may request permanent services contingent upon a level of permanent funding adequate for services provided. Temporary services and fees may be negotiated by the small business export finance assistance center's president subject to approval of the board of directors. The president of the small business export finance assistance center may enter into negotiations with neighboring states to contract for delivery of the project's services. Final contracts for providing the project's counseling and services outside of the state of Washington on a permanent basis shall be subject to approval of the governor, appropriate legislative oversight committees, and the small business export finance assistance center's board of directors.

(6) The small business export finance assistance center may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the Pacific Northwest export assistance project and expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

(7) The president of the small business export finance assistance center, in consultation with the board of directors, may use the following formula in determining the number of clients that can be reasonably served by the Pacific Northwest export assistance project relative to its appropriation. Divide the amount appropriated for administration of the Pacific Northwest export assistance project by the marginal cost of adding each additional Pacific Northwest export assistance project client. For the purposes of this calculation, and only for the first biennium of operation, the biennial marginal cost of adding each additional Pacific Northwest export assistance project client shall be fifty-seven thousand ninety-five dollars. The biennial marginal cost of adding each additional client after the first biennium of operation shall be established from the actual operating experience of the Pacific Northwest export assistance project.

(8) All receipts from the Pacific Northwest export assistance project shall be deposited into the general fund.

Sec. 55. RCW 43.63A.066 and 1990 c 33 s 579 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of economic and community development shall have primary responsibility for providing child abuse and neglect prevention training to preschool age children participating in the federal head start program or the early childhood education and assistance program established under RCW 28A.215.010 through 28A.215.200 and 28A.215.900 through 28A.215.908.

Sec. 56. RCW 43.63A.075 and 1985 c 466 s 53 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall establish a community development finance program. Pursuant to this program, the department shall: (1) Develop expertise in federal, state, and local community and economic development programs; and (2) assist communities and businesses to secure available financing((~~; and (3) work closely with the department of trade and economic development on financial and technical assistance programs available to small and medium sized businesses~~)). To the extent permitted by federal law, the department is encouraged to use federal community block grant funds to make urban development action grants to communities which have not been eligible to receive such grants prior to June 30, 1984.

Sec. 57. RCW 43.63A.115 and 1990 c 156 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The community action agency network, established initially under the federal economic opportunity act of 1964 and subsequently under the federal community services block grant program of 1981, as amended, shall be a delivery system for federal and state anti-poverty programs in this state, including but not limited to the community services block grant program, the low-income energy assistance program, and the federal department of energy weatherization program.

(2) Local community action agencies comprise the community action agency network. The community action agency network shall serve low-income persons in the counties. Each community action agency and its service area shall be designated in the state federal community service block grant plan as prepared by the department of economic and community development.

(3) Funds for anti-poverty programs may be distributed to the community action agencies by the department of economic and community development and other state agencies in consultation with the authorized representatives of community action agency networks.

Sec. 58. RCW 43.63A.155 and 1989 c 225 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of economic and community development shall retain the bond information it receives under RCW 39.44.210 and 39.44.230 and shall publish summaries of local government bond issues at least once a year.

The department of economic and community development shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW to implement RCW 39.44.210 and 39.44.230.

Sec. 59. RCW 43.63A.220 and 1987 c 505 s 34 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of economic and community development is directed to undertake a study as to the best means of providing encouragement and assistance to the formulation of employee stock ownership plans providing for the partial or total acquisition, through purchase, distribution in lieu of compensation, or a combination of these means or any other lawful means, of shares of stock or other instruments of equity in facilities by persons employed at these facilities in cases in which operations at these facilities would, absent employee equity ownership, be terminated, relocated outside of the state, or so reduced in volume as to entail the permanent layoff of a substantial number of the employees.

(2) In conducting its study, the department shall:

(a) Consider federal and state law relating directly or indirectly to plans proposed under subsection (1) of this section, and to the organization and operation of any trusts established pursuant to the plans, including but not limited to, the federal internal revenue code and any regulations promulgated under the internal revenue code, the federal securities act of 1933 as amended and other federal statutes providing for regulation of the issuance of securities, the federal employee retirement income and security act of 1974 as amended, the Chrysler loan guarantee legislation enacted by the United States congress in 1979, and other federal and state laws relating to employment, compensation, taxation, and retirement;

(b) Consult with relevant persons in the public sector, relevant persons in the private sector, including trustees of any existing employee stock ownership trust, and employees of any firm operating under an employee stock ownership trust, and with members of the academic community and of relevant branches of the legal profession;

(c) Examine the experience of trusts organized pursuant to an employee stock ownership plan in this state or in any other state; and

(d) Make other investigations as it may deem necessary in carrying out the purposes of this section.

(3) Pursuant to the findings and conclusions of the study conducted under subsection (2) of this section, the department of community development shall develop a plan to encourage and assist the formulation of employee stock ownership plans providing for the acquisition of stock by employees of facilities in this state which are subject to closure or drastically curtailed operation. The department shall determine the amount of any costs of implementing the plan.

(4) The director of economic and community development shall, within one year of July 28, 1985, report the findings and conclusion of the study, together with details of the plan developed pursuant to the study, to the legislature, and shall include in the report any recommendations for legislation which the director deems appropriate.

(5) The department of economic and community development shall carry out its duties under this section using available resources.

Sec. 60. RCW 43.63A.230 and 1988 c 186 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of economic and community development shall integrate an employee ownership program within its existing technical assistance programs. The employee ownership program shall provide technical assistance to cooperatives authorized under chapter 23.78 RCW and conduct educational programs on employee ownership and self-management. The department shall include information on the option of employee ownership wherever appropriate in its various programs.

(2) The department shall maintain a list of firms and individuals with expertise in the field of employee ownership and utilize such firms and individuals, as appropriate, in delivering and coordinating the delivery of technical, managerial, and educational services. In addition, the department shall work with and rely on the services of ((~~the department of trade and economic development,~~)) the employment security department((,)) and state institutions of higher education to promote employee ownership.

(3) The department shall report to the governor, the ((~~trade and~~)) appropriate economic development ((~~committee of~~)) committees of the senate and the house of representatives, ((~~the commerce and labor committee of the senate,~~)) and the ways and means committees of each house by December 1 of 1988, and each year thereafter, on the accomplishments of the employee-ownership program. Such reports shall include the number and types of firms assisted, the number of jobs created by such firms, the types of services, the number of workshops presented, the number of employees trained, and the results of client satisfaction surveys distributed to those using the services of the program.

(4) For purposes of this section, an employee stock ownership plan qualifies as a cooperative if at least fifty percent, plus one share, of its voting shares of stock are voted on a one-person-one-vote basis.

Sec. 61. RCW 43.63A.245 and 1992 c 63 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 43.63A.240 through 43.63A.270.

"Agency" means one of the agencies or organizations participating in the activities of the senior environmental corps.

"Coordinator" means the person designated by the director of the department of economic and community development with the advice of the council to administer the activities of the senior environmental corps.

"Corps" means the senior environmental corps.

"Council" means the senior environmental corps coordinating council.

"Department" means the department of economic and community development.

"Director" means the director of the department of economic and community development or the director's authorized representative.

"Representative" means the person who represents an agency on the council and is responsible for the activities of the senior environmental corps in his or her agency.

"Senior" means any person who is fifty-five years of age or over.

"Volunteer" means a person who is willing to work without expectation of salary or financial reward, and who chooses where he or she provides services and the type of services he or she provides.

Sec. 62. RCW 43.63A.247 and 1992 c 63 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The senior environmental corps is created within the department of economic and community development. The departments of agriculture, economic and community development, employment security, ecology, fisheries, health, natural resources, and wildlife, the parks and recreation commission, and the Puget Sound water quality authority shall participate in the administration and implementation of the corps and shall appoint representatives to the council.

Sec. 63. RCW 43.63A.260 and 1992 c 63 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall convene a senior environmental corps coordinating council to meet as needed to establish and assess policies, define standards for projects, evaluate and select projects, develop recruitment, training, and placement procedures, receive and review project status and completion reports, and provide for recognition of volunteer activity. The council shall include representatives appointed by the departments of agriculture, economic and community development, ecology, fisheries, health, natural resources, and wildlife, the parks and recreation commission, and the Puget Sound water quality authority. The council shall develop bylaws, policies and procedures to govern its activities.

The council shall advise the director on distribution of available funding for corps activities.

Sec. 64. RCW 43.63A.275 and 1992 c 65 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each biennium the department of economic and community development shall distribute such funds as are appropriated for retired senior volunteer programs (RSVP) as follows:

(a) At least sixty-five percent of the moneys may be distributed according to formulae and criteria to be determined by the department of economic and community development in consultation with the RSVP directors association.

(b) Up to twenty percent of the moneys may be distributed by competitive grant process to develop RSVP projects in counties not presently being served, or to expand existing RSVP services into counties not presently served.

(c) Ten percent of the moneys may be used by the department of economic and community development for administration, monitoring of the grants, and providing technical assistance to the RSVP projects.

(d) Up to five percent of the moneys may be used to support projects that will benefit RSVPs state-wide.

(2) Grants under subsection (1) of this section shall give priority to programs in the areas of education, tutoring, English as a second language, combating of and education on drug abuse, housing and homeless, and respite care, and shall be distributed in accordance with the following:

(a) None of the grant moneys may be used to displace any paid employee in the area being served.

(b) Grants shall be made for programs that focus on:

(i) Developing new roles for senior volunteers in nonprofit and public organizations with special emphasis on areas targeted in section 1, chapter 65, Laws of 1992. The roles shall reflect the diversity of the local senior population and shall respect their life experiences;

(ii) Increasing the expertise of volunteer managers and RSVP managers in the areas of communication, recruitment, motivation, and retention of today's over-sixty population;

(iii) Increasing the number of senior citizens recruited, referred, and placed with nonprofit and public organizations; and

(iv) Providing volunteer support such as: Mileage to and from the volunteer assignment, recognition, and volunteer insurance.

Sec. 65. RCW 43.63A.300 and 1986 c 266 s 54 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature finds that fire protection services at the state level are provided by different, independent state agencies. This has resulted in a lack of a comprehensive state-level focus for state fire protection services, funding, and policy. It is the intent of the legislature to consolidate fire protection services into a single state agency and to create a state board with the responsibility of (1) establishing a comprehensive state policy regarding fire protection services and (2) advising the director of economic and community development and the director of fire protection on matters relating to their duties under state law. It is also the intent of the legislature that the fire protection services program created herein will assist local fire protection agencies in program development without encroaching upon their historic autonomy.

Sec. 66. RCW 43.63A.320 and 1986 c 266 s 56 are each amended to read as follows:

Except for matters relating to the statutory duties of the director of economic and community development which are to be carried out through the director of fire protection, the board shall have the responsibility of developing a comprehensive state policy regarding fire protection services. In carrying out its duties, the board shall:

(1) Adopt a state fire protection master plan;

(2) Monitor fire protection in the state and develop objectives and priorities to improve fire protection for the state's citizens;

(3) Establish and promote state arson control programs and ensure development of local arson control programs;

(4) Provide representation for local fire protection services to the governor in state-level fire protection planning matters such as, but not limited to, hazardous materials;

(5) Seek and solicit grants, gifts, bequests, devices, and matching funds for use in furthering the objectives and duties of the board, and establish procedures for administering them;

(6) Promote mutual aid and disaster planning for fire services in this state;

(7) Assure the dissemination of information concerning the amount of fire damage including that damage caused by arson, and its causes and prevention;

(8) Submit annually a report to the governor containing a statement of its official acts pursuant to this chapter, and make such studies, reports, and recommendations to the governor and the legislature as are requested;

(9) Adopt a state fire training and education master plan;

(10) Develop and adopt a master plan for the construction, equipping, maintaining, and operation of necessary fire service training and education facilities, but the authority to construct, equip, and maintain such facilities is subject to chapter 43.19 RCW;

(11) Develop and adopt a master plan for the purchase, lease, or other acquisition of real estate necessary to establish and operate fire service training and education facilities in a manner provided by law;

(12) Adopt standards for state-wide fire service training and education courses including courses in arson detection and investigation for personnel of fire, police, and prosecutor's departments;

(13) Assure the administration of any legislation enacted by the legislature in pursuance of the aims and purposes of any acts of Congress insofar as the provisions thereof may apply;

(14) Cooperate with the common schools, community colleges, institutions of higher education, and any department or division of the state, or of any county or municipal corporation in establishing and maintaining instruction in fire service training and education in accordance with any act of Congress and legislation enacted by the legislature in pursuance thereof and in establishing, building, and operating training and education facilities.

This section does not apply to forest fire service personnel and programs. Industrial fire departments and private fire investigators may participate in training and education programs under this chapter for a reasonable fee established by rule.

Sec. 67. RCW 43.63A.330 and 1986 c 266 s 57 are each amended to read as follows:

In regards to the statutory duties of the director of economic and community development which are to be carried out through the director of fire protection, the board shall serve in an advisory capacity in order to enhance the continuity of state fire protection services. In this capacity, the board shall:

(1) Advise the director of economic and community development and the director of fire protection on matters pertaining to their duties under law; and

(2) Advise the director of economic and community development and the director of fire protection on all budgeting and fiscal matters pertaining to the duties of the director of fire protection and the board.

Sec. 68. RCW 43.63A.340 and 1986 c 266 s 58 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Wherever the term state fire marshal appears in the Revised Code of Washington or the Washington Administrative Code it shall mean the director of fire protection.

(2) The director of economic and community development shall appoint an assistant director who shall be known as the director of fire protection. The board, after consulting with the director, shall prescribe qualifications for the position of director of fire protection. The board shall submit to the director a list containing the names of three persons whom the board believes meet its qualifications. If requested by the director, the board shall submit one additional list of three persons whom the board believes meet its qualifications. The appointment shall be from one of the lists of persons submitted by the board.

(3) The director of fire protection may designate one or more deputies and may delegate to those deputies his or her duties and authorities as deemed appropriate.

(4) The director of economic and community development, through the director of fire protection, shall, after consultation with the board, prepare a biennial budget pertaining to fire protection services. Such biennial budget shall be submitted as part of the department's budget request.

(5) The director of economic and community development, through the director of fire protection, shall implement and administer, within the constraints established by budgeted resources, the policies of the board and all duties of the director of economic and community development which are to be carried out through the director of fire protection.

(6) The director of economic and community development, through the director of fire protection, shall seek the advice of the board in carrying out his or her duties under law.

Sec. 69. RCW 43.63A.400 and 1987 c 308 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of economic and community development shall distribute grants to eligible public radio and television broadcast stations under RCW 43.63A.410 and 43.63A.420 to assist with programming, operations, and capital needs.

Sec. 70. RCW 43.63A.410 and 1987 c 308 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Eligibility for grants under this section shall be limited to broadcast stations which are:

(a) Licensed to Washington state organizations, nonprofit corporations, or other entities under section 73.621 of the regulations of the federal communications commission; and

(b) Qualified to receive community service grants from the federally chartered corporation for public broadcasting. Eligibility shall be established as of February 28th of each year.

(2) The formula in this subsection shall be used to compute the amount of each eligible station's grant under this section.

(a) Appropriations under this section shall be divided into a radio fund, which shall be twenty-five percent of the total appropriation under this section, and a television fund, which shall be seventy-five percent of the total appropriation under this section. Each of the two funds shall be divided into a base grant pool, which shall be fifty percent of the fund, and an incentive grant pool, which shall be the remaining fifty percent of the fund.

(b) Each eligible participating public radio station shall receive an equal share of the radio base grant pool, plus a share of the radio incentive grant pool equal to the proportion its nonfederal financial support bears to the sum of all participating radio stations' nonfederal financial support as most recently reported to the corporation for public broadcasting.

(c) Each eligible participating public television station shall receive an equal share of the television base grant pool, plus a share of the television incentive grant pool equal to the proportion its nonfederal financial support bears to the sum of all participating television stations' nonfederal financial support as most recently reported to the corporation for public broadcasting.

(3) Annual financial reports to the corporation for public broadcasting by eligible stations shall also be submitted by the stations to the department of economic and community development.

Sec. 71. RCW 43.63A.440 and 1989 c 424 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of economic and community development shall provide technical and financial assistance to communities adversely impacted by reductions in timber harvested from federal lands. This assistance shall include the formation and implementation of community economic development plans. The department of economic and community development shall utilize existing state technical and financial assistance programs, and shall aid communities in seeking private and federal financial assistance for the purposes of this section. The department may contract for services provided for under this section.

(2) The sum of four hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of economic and community development for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section.

Sec. 72. RCW 43.63A.450 and 1990 c 278 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The community diversification program is created in the department of economic and community development. The program shall include:

(1) The monitoring and forecasting of shifts in the economic prospects of major defense employers in the state. This shall include but not be limited to the monitoring of defense contract expenditures, other federal contracts, defense employment shifts, the aircraft and aerospace industry, computer products, and electronics;

(2) The identification of cities, counties, or regions within the state that are primarily dependent on defense or other federal contracting and the identification of firms dependent on federal defense contracts;

(3) Assistance to communities in broadening the local economic base through the provision of management assistance, assistance in financing, entrepreneurial training, and assistance to businesses in using off-the-shelf technology to start new production processes or introduce new products;

(4) Formulating a state plan for diversification in defense dependent communities in collaboration with the employment security department((~~, the department of trade and economic development,~~)) and the office of financial management. The plan shall use the information made available through carrying out subsections (1) and (2) of this section; and

(5) The identification of diversification efforts conducted by other states, the federal government, and other nations, and the provision of information on these efforts, as well as information gained through carrying out subsections (1) and (2) of this section, to firms, communities, and ((~~workforces~~)) work forces that are defense dependent.

The department shall, beginning January 1, 1992, report annually to the governor and the legislature on the activities of the community diversification program.

Sec. 73. RCW 43.63A.460 and 1990 c 176 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Beginning on July 1, 1991, the department of economic and community development shall be responsible for performing all the consumer complaint and related functions of the state administrative agency that are required for purposes of complying with the regulations established by the federal department of housing and urban development for manufactured housing, including the preparation and submission of the state administrative plan.

The department of economic and community development may enter into state or local interagency agreements to coordinate site inspection activities with record monitoring and complaint handling. The interagency agreement may also provide for the reimbursement for cost of work that an agency performs. The department may include other related areas in any interagency agreements which are necessary for the efficient provision of services.

The department of labor and industries shall transfer all records, files, books, and documents necessary for the department of economic and community development to assume these new functions.

The directors of the department of economic and community development and the department of labor and industries shall immediately take such steps as are necessary to ensure that this act is implemented on June 7, 1990.

Sec. 74. RCW 43.63A.600 and 1991 c 315 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of economic and community development, as a member of the agency timber task force and in consultation with the economic recovery coordination board, shall establish and administer the emergency mortgage and rental assistance program. The department shall identify the communities most adversely affected by reductions in timber harvest levels and shall prioritize assistance under this program to these communities. The department shall work with the department of social and health services and the timber recovery coordinator to develop the program in timber impact areas. Organizations eligible to receive funds for distribution under the program are those organizations that are eligible to receive assistance through the Washington housing trust fund.

(2) The goals of the program are to:

(a) Provide temporary emergency mortgage or rental assistance loans on behalf of dislocated forest products workers in timber impact areas who are unable to make current mortgage or rental payments on their permanent residences and are subject to immediate eviction for nonpayment of mortgage installments or nonpayment of rent;

(b) Prevent the dislocation of individuals and families from their permanent residences and their communities; and

Sec. 75. RCW 43.105.020 and 1990 c 208 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) "Department" means the department of information services;

(2) "Board" means the information services board;

(3) "Local governments" includes all municipal and quasi municipal corporations and political subdivisions, and all agencies of such corporations and subdivisions authorized to contract separately;

(4) "Director" means the director of the department;

(5) "Purchased services" means services provided by a vendor to accomplish routine, continuing, and necessary functions. This term includes, but is not limited to, services acquired for equipment maintenance and repair, operation of a physical plant, security, computer hardware and software installation and maintenance, data entry, keypunch services, programming services, and computer time-sharing;

(6) "Backbone network" means the shared high-density portions of the state's telecommunications transmission facilities. It includes specially conditioned high-speed communications carrier lines, multiplexors, switches associated with such communications lines, and any equipment and software components necessary for management and control of the backbone network;

(7) "Telecommunications" means the transmission of information by wire, radio, optical cable, electromagnetic, or other means;

(8) "Information processing" means the electronic capture, collection, storage, manipulation, transmission, retrieval, and presentation of information in the form of data, text, voice, or image and includes telecommunications and office automation functions;

(9) "Information services" means data processing, telecommunications, and office automation;

(10) "Equipment" means the machines, devices, and transmission facilities used in information processing, such as computers, word processors, terminals, telephones, and cables;

(11) "Proprietary software" means that software offered for sale or license;

(12) "Video telecommunications" means the electronic interconnection of two or more sites for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving visual and associated audio information. Video telecommunications shall not include existing public television broadcast stations as currently designated by the department of economic and community development under chapter ((~~43.63A~~)) 43.-- RCW (sections 1 through 8, 10 through 14, and 76 of this act).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 76. (1) All references to the director or department of community development in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the director or department of economic and community development.

(2) All references to the director or department of trade and economic development in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the director or department of economic and community development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 77. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 43.31.005 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 68 & 1985 c 466 s 1;

(2) RCW 43.31.015 and 1985 c 466 s 2;

(3) RCW 43.31.025 and 1987 c 348 s 8 & 1985 c 466 s 3;

(4) RCW 43.31.035 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 69 & 1985 c 466 s 4;

(5) RCW 43.31.045 and 1985 c 466 s 5;

(6) RCW 43.31.055 and 1985 c 466 s 6;

(7) RCW 43.31.065 and 1985 c 466 s 9;

(8) RCW 43.31.075 and 1985 c 466 s 10;

(9) RCW 43.31.095 and 1985 c 466 s 12;

(10) RCW 43.31.097 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 71;

(11) RCW 43.31.105 and 1985 c 466 s 13;

(12) RCW 43.31.115 and 1985 c 466 s 14;

(13) RCW 43.31.130 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 34 s 110 & 1965 c 8 s 43.31.130;

(14) RCW 43.31.135 and 1987 c 505 s 30 & 1985 c 466 s 17;

(15) RCW 43.31.373 and 1988 c 35 s 1, 1985 c 466 s 24, & 1984 c 175 s 1;

(16) RCW 43.31.375 and 1985 c 466 s 25 & 1984 c 175 s 2;

(17) RCW 43.31.377 and 1988 c 35 s 2, 1985 c 466 s 26, & 1984 c 175 s 3;

(18) RCW 43.31.379 and 1988 c 35 s 3, 1985 c 466 s 27, & 1984 c 175 s 4;

(19) RCW 43.31.381 and 1988 c 35 s 4, 1985 c 466 s 28, & 1984 c 175 s 5;

(20) RCW 43.31.383 and 1985 c 466 s 29 & 1984 c 175 s 6;

(21) RCW 43.31.387 and 1985 c 466 s 31 & 1984 c 175 s 8;

(22) RCW 43.31.430 and 1989 c 423 s 2;

(23) RCW 43.31.432 and 1989 c 423 s 3;

(24) RCW 43.31.434 and 1989 c 423 s 6;

(25) RCW 43.31.436 and 1989 c 423 s 7;

(26) RCW 43.31.438 and 1989 c 423 s 8;

(27) RCW 43.31.440 and 1989 c 423 s 9;

(28) RCW 43.31.442 and 1989 c 423 s 10;

(29) RCW 43.31.651 and 1991 c 314 s 9;

(30) RCW 43.31.790 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 292 s 2 & 1965 c 148 s 1;

(31) RCW 43.31.800 and 1987 c 195 s 4 & 1965 c 148 s 2;

(32) RCW 43.31.810 and 1987 c 195 s 5, 1975 1st ex.s. c 292 s 3, & 1965 c 148 s 3;

(33) RCW 43.31.820 and 1987 c 195 s 6, 1975 1st ex.s. c 292 s 4, & 1965 c 148 s 4;

(34) RCW 43.63A.020 and 1986 c 266 s 136, 1984 c 125 s 2, & 1967 c 74 s 2;

(35) RCW 43.63A.030 and 1984 c 125 s 1 & 1967 c 74 s 3;

(36) RCW 43.63A.040 and 1984 c 125 s 3, 1975 c 40 s 10, & 1967 c 74 s 4;

(37) RCW 43.63A.050 and 1967 c 74 s 5;

(38) RCW 43.63A.060 and 1987 c 505 s 32, 1984 c 125 s 4, & 1967 c 74 s 6;

(39) RCW 43.63A.065 and 1992 c 198 s 7, 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 70, 1986 c 266 s 137, & 1984 c 125 s 5;

(40) RCW 43.63A.078 and 1987 c 505 s 33 & 1984 c 125 s 7;

(41) RCW 43.63A.095 and 1984 c 125 s 8;

(42) RCW 43.63A.100 and 1984 c 125 s 9 & 1967 c 74 s 10;

(43) RCW 43.63A.130 and 1983 c 52 s 6, 1981 c 157 s 6, & 1967 c 74 s 13;

(44) RCW 43.63A.140 and 1967 c 74 s 14;

(45) RCW 43.63A.210 and 1985 c 85 s 1;

(46) RCW 43.63A.560 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 67;

(47) RCW 43.165.020 and 1985 c 229 s 2;

(48) RCW 43.165.030 and 1987 c 195 s 13 & 1985 c 229 s 3;

(49) RCW 43.165.040 and 1985 c 229 s 4;

(50) RCW 43.165.050 and 1985 c 229 s 5;

(51) RCW 43.165.060 and 1985 c 229 s 6;

(52) RCW 43.165.070 and 1985 c 229 s 7;

(53) RCW 43.165.080 and 1987 c 195 s 14 & 1985 c 229 s 8;

(54) RCW 43.165.090 and 1985 c 229 s 9;

(55) RCW 43.165.100 and 1985 c 229 s 10;

(56) RCW 43.165.900 and 1985 c 229 s 14; and

(57) RCW 43.165.901 and 1985 c 229 s 15.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 78. Sections 1 through 8, 10 through 14, and 76 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 79. Sections 1 through 8 and 10 through 78 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 80. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.