House Bill 2879 - State of Washington, 2020 Regular Session

Summary

House Bill 2879 of the State of Washington, 66th Legislature, 2020 Regular Session, by Representatives Vick and Eslick, read first time January 28, 2020 and referred to the Committee on Innovation, Technology & Economic Development. The title states that the bill relates to fostering economic growth in Washington by supporting in-state manufacturing and adds a new section to chapter 44.04 RCW. Section 2 provides that, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Washington manufacturing work group is established. It requires the work group to submit a report on recommended policies by November 30, 2021, and provides that the section expires August 1, 2022.

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Full text

     H-4225.1

                                HOUSE BILL 2879


     State of Washington        66th Legislature         2020 Regular Session

     By Representatives Vick and Eslick

     Read first time 01/28/20.      Referred   to   Committee   on   Innovation,
     Technology & Economic Development.




1        AN ACT Relating to fostering economic growth in Washington by
2    supporting in-state manufacturing; adding a new section to chapter
3    44.04 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.


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


 5       NEW SECTION.   Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that manufacturing
 6   jobs are important to all regions of Washington because of their
 7   above-average wages and strong benefits. Manufacturing industries
 8   employ more than two hundred eighty-seven thousand people in
 9   Washington. Manufacturers help drive Washington's economy, producing
10   more than fifty-eight billion dollars in goods annually and
11   accounting for nearly twelve percent of the gross state product. More
12   than eighty percent of Washington exports are manufactured goods. The
13   legislature finds that due to a complex variety of factors from
14   global competition, automation, regulatory factors, and productivity
15   gains, this sector of the economy has had output growth without
16   experiencing the desired employment growth during this cycle of
17   economic growth for the country and our state. The legislature
18   intends to investigate these factors and discuss with private sector
19   partners the full spectrum of policy levers that could improve and
20   sustain long-term job growth and regulatory certainty for this
21   critical sector of our economy. Therefore, the legislature intends to
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1    establish a time-limited legislative work group on manufacturing to
2    be assisted by a private sector advisory group.


 3       NEW SECTION.   Sec. 2.   A new section is added to chapter 44.04
 4   RCW to read as follows:
 5       (1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this
 6   specific purpose, the Washington manufacturing work group is
 7   established. The purpose of the work group is to promote economic
 8   development in every one of Washington's counties through a
 9   comprehensive assessment of policy recommendations that will lead to
10   improvement in the regulatory conditions, infrastructure, and
11   workforce   development  resources   that   support the  growth  and
12   sustainability of the manufacturing sector.
13       (2) The legislative work group is composed of the following
14   members:
15       (a) Two senators from each of the two largest caucuses of the
16   senate, appointed by the leader of each respective caucus. Each
17   leader shall appoint senators representing a district both west and
18   east of the Cascade crest; and
19       (b) Two representatives from each of the two largest caucuses of
20   the house of representatives, appointed by the leader of each
21   respective   caucus.  Each   leader   shall  appoint   representatives
22   representing a district both west and east of the Cascade crest.
23       (3) The work group must convene an advisory group of nonvoting
24   members to provide information, assistance, and input to the work
25   group in its development of policy recommendations as described in
26   subsection (1) of this section. The chair of the work group shall
27   appoint a statewide manufacturing trade association representative to
28   the advisory group, who shall, in turn, appoint advisory group
29   members who shall include, but not be limited to, members from each
30   of the following industry subsectors:
31       (a) Aerospace manufacturing;
32       (b) Food manufacturing;
33       (c) Beverage manufacturing;
34       (d) Wood product manufacturing;
35       (e) Primary metal manufacturing;
36       (f) Machinery manufacturing;
37       (g) Computer and electronic product manufacturing;
38       (h) Furniture and related product manufacturing;
39       (i) Transportation equipment manufacturing;
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 1       (j) Chemical manufacturing;
 2       (k) Plastics and rubber products manufacturing;
 3       (l) Paper manufacturing;
 4       (m) Printing and related support activities;
 5       (n) Maritime manufacturing; and
 6       (o) Clean energy manufacturing.
 7       (4) Nonvoting members of the advisory group should include a
 8   designee from the following:
 9       (a) The department of commerce;
10       (b) The department of revenue;
11       (c) The department of ecology;
12       (d) The department of labor and industries;
13       (e) The employment security department; and
14       (f) The governor's senior policy staff.
15       (5) A majority of the legislative work group members constitutes
16   a quorum. If a member has not been designated for a position set
17   forth in this section, that position may not be counted for the
18   purpose of determining a quorum.
19       (6) The work group must hold its inaugural meeting by August 1,
20   2020. The work group must elect a chair from among its members at the
21   inaugural meeting. The election of the chair must be by a majority
22   vote of the work group members who are present at the inaugural
23   meeting. The chair of the work group is responsible for arranging
24   subsequent meetings and developing meeting agendas.
25       (7) Staff support for the work group, including arranging the
26   inaugural meeting of the work group and assisting the chair of the
27   work group in arranging subsequent meetings, must be provided by the
28   senate committee services and the house of representatives office of
29   program research.
30       (8) The expenses of the work group must be paid jointly by the
31   senate and house of representatives. Work group expenditures are
32   subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee
33   and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their
34   successor committees.
35       (9) The work group is a class one group under chapter 43.03 RCW.
36   Work group members may be reimbursed for travel expenses in
37   accordance with RCW 44.04.120.
38       (10) Advisory group members are not entitled to be reimbursed for
39   travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on
40   behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization.
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 1   Any reimbursement for advisory group members is subject to chapter
 2   43.03 RCW.
 3       (11) A public comment period must be provided at every meeting of
 4   the work group.
 5       (12) By November 30, 2021, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036,
 6   the work group must submit a report on recommended policies that will
 7   facilitate the development of manufacturing in all of Washington
 8   state's counties. The report shall be delivered to the governor and
 9   the appropriate economic development committees of the legislature.
10       (13) This section expires August 1, 2022. The work group is
11   dissolved upon the expiration of this section.

                                  --- END ---




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