Report - 2024 01 23 A31727 D265992 Bill Report 6168 Sbr Bfgt Ta 24

Summary

A Senate Bill Report on SB 6168, an act relating to renewing Washington's international leadership, as of January 18, 2024, prepared by staff of the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade; the sponsors are Senators Stanford, Frame, Nobles and Wellman. The report states that the bill expands the duties of the Office of International Relations and Protocol (OIRP), requires a strategic international engagement plan by July 1, 2025, and moves the designation of 15 foreign jurisdictions of strategic importance to OIRP from the Department of Commerce. It also increases the legislative members of LCEDIR from 12 to 16, creates an Interparliamentary Exchange with British Columbia, and allows travel and lodging costs from the Legislative International Trade Account. The report closes with a staff summary of supporting and opposing public testimony.

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

Full text

                            SENATE BILL REPORT
                                  SB 6168

                                      As of January 18, 2024

Title: An act relating to renewing Washington's international leadership.

Brief Description: Renewing Washington's international leadership.

Sponsors: Senators Stanford, Frame, Nobles and Wellman.

Brief History:
     Committee Activity: Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade: 1/18/24.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
           • Establishes new and modified statutory duties and expands authority of
             the Office of International Relations and Protocol (OIRP).
           • Requires OIRP to develop a strategic international engagement plan.
           • Establishes that the OIRP is responsible for determining jurisdictions of
             strategic importance.
           • Increases the number of legislative members on the Legislative
             Committee on Economic Development and International Relations from
             12 to 16.
           • Creates an Interparliamentary Exchange with British Columbia.
           • Removes the prohibition on reimbursing travel and lodging expenses
             from the Legislative International Trade Account.


SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, GAMING & TRADE

     Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)

     Background: The Office of International Relations and Protocol. The Office of
     International Relations and Protocol (OIRP), under the Office of the Governor, was created



     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.

Senate Bill Report                              -1-                                             SB 6168
     by legislation in 1991. It serves as the state's official liaison and protocol office with foreign
     governments. The OIRP may create temporary advisory committees to deal with specific
     international issues. The OIRP is led by a director, appointed by the Governor.

     Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations. The
     Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR)
     was created by legislation in 1985. It studies and reviews economic development issues
     with a special emphasis in international trade, tourism, investment, and industrial
     development, and assisting the Legislature in developing a comprehensive and consistent
     economic development policy. LCEDIR is led by the Lieutenant Governor and consists of
     12 legislative members, 6 from each chamber, each equally representing the two caucuses.

     Funding for LCEDIR travel costs, excluding lodging and travel, may come from the
     Legislative International Trade Account (Account). Authorization for expenditure requires
     the signed approval of the Chief Clerk of the House, the Secretary of the Senate, and the
     President of the Senate—Lieutenant Governor. Expenses incurred by LCEDIR, including
     salaries and expenses of employees, must be paid through voucher forms and signed by the
     chairperson or vice chairperson of the committee and attested by the secretary of the
     committee.

     Summary of Bill: The Office of International Relations and Protocol. Strategic Plan. The
     OIRP must develop a strategic international engagement plan to guide Washington State's
     international engagement and economic development. The OIRP may consult with relevant
     public and private entities when developing a plan. A complete strategic plan must be
     completed by July 1, 2025. Every two and a half years, the strategic plan must undergo a
     review to measure progress and outcomes with an update every five years.

     Authority. The OIRP's authority is updated. The OIRP may:
        • create advisory committees as necessary;
        • designate foreign jurisdictions, such as national governments, subnational
          governments, and international organizations, as jurisdictions of strategic importance;
          and
        • establish procedures and requirements for operations and expenditures to support and
          enhance state government partnerships and relationships with foreign jurisdictions.

     Duties. The OIRP is required to advise and coordinate with certain elected officials on
     international developments pertaining to the state as well as support engagement between
     foreign governments, build government-to-government relationships, coordinate protocol
     for visiting foreign dignitaries, designate an international engagement advisory committee,
     assist institutions of higher education in implementing international programs, improve
     coordination with the Washington Tourism Authority, and establish an international
     exchange between the state and British Columbia.

     Countries of Strategic Importance. The duty to determine 15 foreign jurisdictions of


Senate Bill Report                               -2-                                          SB 6168
     strategic importance to the development and diversification of Washington State's
     international relations is moved to OIRP from the Department of Commerce. Certain factors
     must be considered when designating such jurisdictions including partnership in key
     industrial sectors, the presence of international trade offices or other program-based
     engagement conducted by state agencies, and historic or existing bilateral agreements,
     among others.

     The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations.
     Additional Members Added. An additional four members are added to LCEDIR, two from
     each chamber representing a member of the opposite caucus.

     Interparliamentary Exchange with British Columbia. Under the general provisions of the
     Legislature, an Interparliamentary Exchange with British Columbia is created, represented
     by the chair of LCEDIR. The purpose is to facilitate legislator-to-legislator communication
     between the two governments. LCEDIR is also required to cooperate, act, and function with
     similar entities to LCEDIR of the provinces and territories of Canada.

     Travel and Lodging Costs. Travel and lodging are an allowable use of funds from the
     Account. Authorization from the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate is
     no longer required for expenditures from the Account.

     Vouchers for expenses. The requirement that all expenses incurred by LCEDIR, including
     salaries and expenses of employees, be paid by voucher is repealed.

     Appropriation: None.

     Fiscal Note: Available.

     Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: Yes.

     Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

     Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill began last session. It is vitally
     important that we pay attention to international trade with other countries, and need to be
     deliberate with how we approach it. The Lieutenant Governor supports the bill as written.
     Washington is the most trade driven state in the nation. This work benefits all businesses in
     Washington. This bill establishes an interparliamentary exchange group with British
     Columbia (BC). Washington and BC's economies are intertwined. Adding members to
     LCEDIR has bipartisan support, as does creating the interparliamentary
     exchange. International engagement is essential to WA's economic development and affects
     many sectors. This bill makes important and timely updates for the 21st century, supporting
     and strengthening international partnerships. It will strengthen leadership in the private
     sectors, as we compete for international business in critical industries. Washington's
     international exports and foreign-directed investment are the reason we are envied by other


Senate Bill Report                             -3-                                        SB 6168
     states. Other states are now stepping up their efforts in international trade. It is important
     Washington bring focus on our leadership in international relationships, and this bill does
     that.

     Our entity recently went on a trade mission with the Governor's Office. We were able to
     participate in conversations on nuclear waste and meet companies looking to set up
     manufacturing in Washington. This program helps facilitate conversations with
     international businesses that may not have happened otherwise. There is an urgent need to
     update the legislative plan for international relations. This bill represents our commitment to
     international affairs, and reflects the voices needed to the state's well-being. Strengthening
     Canadian legislative committee relationships and participating in an interparliamentary
     exchange will help our economic and international partnership with our neighbor. The
     development of the strategic plan, and required update every 5 years, will ensure
     Washington stays up to date on international affairs. This bill will help the Port of Seattle
     expand into new markets. Washington is in the top five for states' exports, and 8th in total
     value for exports. International trade supports Washington jobs. Government to government
     relationships will be bolstered by this bill, particularly with BC.

     CON: Washington State pays for 15 different international public policy banjos. This does
     not include the costs for when a legislator wants to take an international trip. What about the
     carbon footprint of these trips? You need environmental policy language in this bill. This
     bill needs to be consolidated. This Office has been polluting for free since 1991.

     Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Derek Stanford, Prime Sponsor; James Rolph, The
     Lieutenant Governor's Office; Geoffrey Potter, Office of Governor Jay Inslee; Schuyler
     Hoss, Former Director of International Relations and Protocol; Karl Dye, TRIDEC; Lydia
     Faitalia, Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs; John Flanagan,
     Port of Seattle; Amy Anderson, Association of Washington Business.

     CON: John Worthington.

     Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.




Senate Bill Report                              -4-                                         SB 6168


File and source

File

2024-01-23_a31727_d265992_bill-report-6168-sbr-bfgt-ta-24.pdf

Size

12,452 bytes

SHA-256

7d5530bae0671b24892bf377336896744109621f86c27ef2ab613085a900d1a5

Our copy

2024-01-23_a31727_d265992_bill-report-6168-sbr-bfgt-ta-24.pdf

Original

app.leg.wa.gov