Bill Analysis - HB 1170, Building Economic Strength Through Manufacturing (Washington House)
Summary
Bill analysis of HB 1170, Building economic strength through manufacturing, from the Office of Program Research of the Washington State House of Representatives for the Community & Economic Development Committee. The brief summary says the bill establishes a state goal for Washington to consistently have the highest share of workforce involved in manufacturing and research and development (R&D) occupations of any state, with the Department of Commerce responsible for implementing the goal. The summary of the bill says the Department must convene manufacturing and R&D stakeholders each fiscal biennium to compile a report to the Legislature, and must establish regional offices staffed with a lead coordinator. It states that a fiscal note was requested on January 14, 2021.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Bill Analysis - HB 1170, Building Economic Strength Through Manufacturing (Washington House).”
Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-01-29-a28394-d226254-bill-analysis-cbaa13b00e/
, SHA-256 33b526915355467a07d72dc51089431d76b390aafc37481e41c5bf18ebe9ff2f.Full text
Washington State BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research ANALYSIS
Community & Economic Development
Committee
HB 1170
Brief Description: Building economic strength through manufacturing.
Sponsors: Representatives Boehnke, Paul, Walsh, Kloba, Shewmake, Santos, Springer, Dolan,
Dye, Graham, Leavitt, McCaslin, Young, Walen, Riccelli, Bateman, Lovick, Lekanoff,
Eslick, Frame, Barkis, Sutherland, Robertson and Dent.
Brief Summary of Bill
• Establishes a state goal for Washington to consistently have the highest
share of workforce involved in manufacturing and research and
development (R&D) occupations of any state.
• Provides that the Department of Commerce (Department) is responsible
for implementing the goal.
• Requires the Department to conduct certain activities in support of
achieving the goal, including convening stakeholders, establishing
regional offices, assessing remote manufacturing workforce training
challenges, and issuing reports to the Legislature.
Hearing Date:
Staff: Kyle Raymond (786-7190).
Background:
The Department of Commerce (Department) is responsible for growing and improving jobs in
Washington, facilitating innovation, and streamlining access to business assistance and economic
development services by providing them through sector-based, cluster-based, and regional
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
constitute a statement of legislative intent.
House Bill Analysis -1- HB 1170
partners. Industry clusters targeted by Commerce include aerospace, agriculture, food
manufacturing, clean technology, information and communication technology, forest products,
life science, global health, maritime, and military and defense sectors. The Department employs
sector leads that work with public officials and industry representatives to promote public-private
partnerships, enhance workforce development in targeted industries, and advance strategies that
support small business growth and expansion.
Summary of Bill:
A state goal is established for Washington to consistently have the highest share of workforce
involved in manufacturing and research and development (R&D) occupations of any state in the
United States. The Department of Commerce (Department) is responsible for implementing the
state's goal.
The Department is required to convene manufacturing and R&D stakeholders each fiscal
biennium for the purpose of compiling a report to the Legislature detailing the progress made
towards achieving the state goal. In addition, the report must identify policy obstacles hindering
the advancement of the state goal and provide recommendations.
The Department is required to establish regional offices that are staffed with a lead coordinator.
The lead coordinator of the regional office is responsible for establishing a research and
manufacturing industrial council, identifying and expanding capacity for local skill centers, and
promoting and fostering skilled trade learning programs.
The Department is required to coordinate with the Office of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction and the State Board for Community and Technical College to assess any inadequacy
or gaps in delivering remote hands-on, skills-based manufacturing workforce training.
The Department is required to convene stakeholders to obtain information about experiences of
lost opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic related to workforce training that resulted from
closures or limitations at on-site and in-person training facilities. The Department must provide a
report to the legislature with recommendations on how Washington can be the world leader in
best practices for delivering remote learning opportunities adapted to the manufacturing
workplace.
The Department is required to report to the Legislature on the feasibility of forming both a state
manufacturing office and a state research and development office to support the attainment of the
state manufacturing goal.
The Department must employ a sector lead for general manufacturing, and a sector lead for
R&D, while the Department maintains its key sector economic development organizational
focus.
In pursuit of the state goal, the Department may expend resources to feature and promote a
House Bill Analysis -2- HB 1170
particular innovation, product, or industry subclassification. The Department may not
discriminate against or fail to use best efforts on behalf of any lawful manufacturing or R&D
activity that seeks to employ Washingtonians.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 14, 2021.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.
House Bill Analysis -3- HB 1170
File and source
- File
- 2021-01-29_a28394_d226254_bill-analysis.pdf
- Size
- 8,436 bytes
- SHA-256
- 33b526915355467a07d72dc51089431d76b390aafc37481e41c5bf18ebe9ff2f
- Original
- No public link identified.