House Bill 1767, Department of Commerce and Federal Funding Opportunities (Washington, 2023)

Summary

House Bill 1767 of the 68th Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, State of Washington, an act relating to promoting economic development by strengthening the role of the department of commerce in monitoring and providing technical assistance related to federal funding opportunities. The sponsors are Representatives Barnard, Stearns, Chapman, and Volz, and the bill was read first time on February 6, 2023. Section 1 states a legislative finding that recent federal legislation has significantly increased federal grant opportunities. Section 2 amends RCW 43.330.040, which sets out the powers and duties of the director who supervises and administers the activities of the department.

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Full text

     H-1045.1

                                HOUSE BILL 1767


     State of Washington       68th Legislature       2023 Regular Session

     By Representatives Barnard, Stearns, Chapman, and Volz

     Read first time 02/06/23.      Referred to Committee     on   Innovation,
     Community & Economic Development, & Veterans.




1        AN   ACT   Relating   to   promoting   economic   development   by
2    strengthening the role of the department of commerce in monitoring
3    and providing technical assistance related to federal funding
4    opportunities; amending RCW 43.330.040; and creating a new section.


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


 6       NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that recent federal
 7   legislation has significantly increased federal grant opportunities.
 8   Several federal laws provide funding for economic development
 9   clusters that Washington state has invested in as part of an economic
10   development strategy, including broadband, clean energy, clean
11   buildings, and clean transportation. This legislation includes, but
12   is not limited to, the infrastructure investment and jobs act, P.L.
13   117-58, the creating helpful incentives to produce semiconductors
14   (chips) and science act, P.L. 117-167, and the inflation reduction
15   act, P.L. 117-169. Therefore, the legislature intends to increase the
16   capacity of the department of commerce to help the state, local
17   governments, tribes, and small businesses compete for federal grant
18   dollars, and to appropriately increase the scope of reporting from
19   the department to the legislature.



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 1       Sec. 2. RCW 43.330.040 and 2016 sp.s. c 12 s 1 are each amended
 2   to read as follows:
 3       (1) The director shall supervise and administer the activities of
 4   the department and shall advise the governor and the legislature with
 5   respect to community and economic development matters affecting the
 6   state.
 7       (2) In addition to other powers and duties granted to the
 8   director, the director shall have the following powers and duties:
 9       (a) Enter into contracts on behalf of the state to carry out the
10   purposes of this chapter;
11       (b) Act for the state in the initiation of or participation in
12   any multigovernmental program relative to the purpose of this
13   chapter;
14       (c) Accept and expend gifts and grants, whether such grants be of
15   federal or other funds;
16       (d) Appoint such deputy directors, assistant directors, and up to
17   seven special assistants as may be needed to administer the
18   department. These employees are exempt from the provisions of chapter
19   41.06 RCW;
20       (e) Prepare and submit budgets for the department for executive
21   and legislative action;
22       (f) Submit recommendations for legislative actions as are deemed
23   necessary to further the purposes of this chapter;
24       (g) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW and perform
25   all other functions necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of
26   this chapter;
27       (h) Delegate powers, duties, and functions as the director deems
28   necessary for efficient administration, but the director shall be
29   responsible for the official acts of the officers and employees of
30   the department; and
31       (i) Perform other duties as are necessary and consistent with
32   law.
33       (3) When federal or other funds are received by the department,
34   they shall be promptly transferred to the state treasurer and
35   thereafter expended only upon the approval of the director. The
36   department must track the amount of federal economic development
37   funding received and disbursed along with any required state, local,
38   or other matching requirements and annually provide the information
39   to   the   economic   development   committees   of  the   house   of
40   representatives and the senate. The department's reports to the
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 1   legislature must include a description of efforts made to obtain for
 2   Washington state federal economic development dollars to support
 3   clean energy, clean transportation, clean buildings, and broadband.
 4   The reports should also advise the legislature on the scope of need
 5   for technical assistance capacity in the department to serve local
 6   governments, tribes, and small businesses in applying for federal
 7   grants and loans.
 8       (4) The director may request information and assistance from all
 9   other agencies, departments, and officials of the state, and may
10   reimburse such agencies, departments, or officials if such a request
11   imposes any additional expenses upon any such agency, department, or
12   official.
13       (5) The director shall, in carrying out the responsibilities of
14   office, consult with governmental officials, private groups, and
15   individuals and with officials of other states. All state agencies
16   and their officials and the officials of any political subdivision of
17   the state shall cooperate with and give such assistance to the
18   department, including the submission of requested information, to
19   allow the department to carry out its purposes under this chapter.
20       (6)   The   director   may  establish   additional  advisory  or
21   coordinating groups with the legislature, within state government,
22   with state and other governmental units, with the private sector and
23   nonprofit entities or in specialized subject areas as may be
24   necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
25       (7) The internal affairs of the department shall be under the
26   control of the director in order that the director may manage the
27   department in a flexible and intelligent manner as dictated by
28   changing contemporary circumstances. Unless specifically limited by
29   law, the director shall have complete charge and supervisory powers
30   over the department. The director may create such administrative
31   structures as the director deems appropriate, except as otherwise
32   specified by law, and the director may employ such personnel as may
33   be necessary in accordance with chapter 41.06 RCW, except as
34   otherwise provided by law.

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