The legislature finds that the long-term economic health of the state and its citizens depends upon the strength and vitality of its communities and businesses. It is the intent of this chapter to create a department of commerce that fosters new partnerships for strong and sustainable communities. The mission of the department is to grow and improve jobs in Washington and facilitate innovation. To carry out its mission, the department will bring together focused efforts to: Streamline access to business assistance and economic development services by providing them through sector-based, cluster-based, and regional partners; provide focused and flexible responses to changing economic conditions; generate greater local capacity to respond to both economic growth and environmental challenges; increase accountability to the public, the executive branch, and the legislature; manage growth and achieve sustainable development; diversify the state's economy and export goods and services; provide greater access to economic opportunity; stimulate private sector investment and entrepreneurship; provide stable family-wage jobs and meet the diverse needs of families; provide affordable housing and housing services; and construct public infrastructure.
The legislature further finds that as a result of the rapid pace of global social and economic change, the state and local communities will require coordinated and creative responses by every segment of the community. The state can play a role in assisting such local efforts by reorganizing state assistance efforts to promote such partnerships. The department has a primary responsibility to provide financial and technical assistance to the communities of the state, to assist in improving the delivery of federal, state, and local programs, and to provide communities with opportunities for productive and coordinated development beneficial to the well-being of communities and their residents. It is the intent of the legislature in creating the department to maximize the use of local expertise and resources in the delivery of community and economic development services.
[ 2010 c 271 § 2; 1993 c 280 § 1; ]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish the broad outline of the structure of the department of commerce, leaving specific details of its internal organization and management to those charged with its administration. This chapter identifies the broad functions and responsibilities of the department and is intended to provide flexibility to the director to reorganize these functions to more closely reflect its customers, its mission, and its priorities, and to make recommendations for changes.
In order to generate greater local capacity, maximize results through partnerships and the use of intermediaries, and leverage the use of state resources, the department shall, in carrying out its business assistance and economic development functions, provide business and economic development services primarily through sector-based, cluster-based, and regionally based organizations rather than providing assistance directly to individual firms.
[ 2010 c 271 § 3; 2009 c 565 § 1; 1993 c 280 § 2; ]
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
"Associate development organization" means a local economic development nonprofit corporation that is broadly representative of community interests.
"Department" means the department of commerce.
"Director" means the director of the department of commerce.
"Family resource center" means a unified single point of entry where families, individuals, children, and youth in communities can obtain information, an assessment of needs, referral to, or direct delivery of family services in a manner that is welcoming and strength-based.
A family resource center is designed to meet the needs, cultures, and interests of the communities that the family resource center serves.
Family services may be delivered directly to a family at the family resource center by family resource center staff or by providers who contract with or have provider agreements with the family resource center. Any family resource center that provides family services shall comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations regarding the delivery of such family services, unless required waivers or exemptions have been granted by the appropriate governing body.
Each family resource center shall have one or more family advocates who screen and assess a family's needs and strengths. If requested by the family, the family advocate shall assist the family with setting its own goals and, together with the family, develop a written plan to pursue the family's goals in working towards a greater level of self-reliance or in attaining self-sufficiency.
"Financial institution" means a bank, trust company, mutual savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union authorized to do business in this state under state or federal law.
"Small business" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 39.26.010.
[ 2021 c 39 § 3; 2014 c 112 § 401; 2011 c 286 § 4; 2009 c 565 § 2; 2007 c 322 § 2; 1993 c 280 § 3; ]
A department of commerce 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. Unless otherwise specifically provided, the existing responsibilities and functions of the agency programs will continue to be administered in accordance with their implementing legislation.
[ 2009 c 565 § 3; 1993 c 280 § 4; ]
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.
[ 1993 c 280 § 5; ]
The director shall supervise and administer the activities of the department and shall advise the governor and the legislature with respect to community and economic development matters affecting the state.
In addition to other powers and duties granted to the director, the director shall have the following powers and duties:
Enter into contracts on behalf of the state to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
Act for the state in the initiation of or participation in any multigovernmental program relative to the purpose of this chapter;
Accept and expend gifts and grants, whether such grants be of federal or other funds;
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;
Prepare and submit budgets for the department for executive and legislative action;
Submit recommendations for legislative actions as are deemed necessary to further the purposes of this chapter;
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;
Delegate powers, duties, and functions as the director deems necessary for efficient administration, but the director shall be responsible for the official acts of the officers and employees of the department; and
Perform other duties as are necessary and consistent with law.
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. The department must track the amount of federal economic development funding received and disbursed along with any required state, local, or other matching requirements and annually provide the information to the economic development committees of the house of representatives and the senate.
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.
The director shall, in carrying out the responsibilities of office, consult with governmental officials, private groups, and individuals and with officials of other states. 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.
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.
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, except as otherwise provided by law.
[ 2016 sp.s. c 12 § 1; 1993 c 280 § 6; ]
The department shall be responsible for promoting community and economic development within the state by assisting the state's communities to increase the quality of life of their citizens and their economic vitality, and by assisting 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 manage growth; the promotion and provision of affordable housing and housing-related services; providing public infrastructure; business and trade development; assisting firms and industrial sectors to increase their competitiveness; fostering the development of minority and women-owned businesses; facilitating technology development, transfer, and diffusion; community services and advocacy for low-income persons; and public safety efforts. The department shall have the following general functions and responsibilities:
Provide advisory assistance to the governor, other state agencies, and the legislature on community and economic development matters and issues;
Assist the governor in coordinating the activities of state agencies that have an impact on local government and communities;
Cooperate with the legislature and the governor in the development and implementation of strategic plans for the state's community and economic development efforts;
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. To maximize the impact of federal funding for economic development, the department must coordinate with federal and state public research facilities to leverage other federal funding coming to the state for research, development, innovation of new technologies, and transfer of technology to the private sector to promote business development and jobs in Washington;
Cooperate with and 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 additional consideration to local communities and individuals with the greatest relative need and the fewest resources;
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;
Hold public hearings and meetings to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
Conduct research and analysis in furtherance of the state's economic and community development efforts including maintenance of current information on market, demographic, and economic trends as they affect different industrial sectors, geographic regions, and communities with special economic and social problems in the state; and
Develop a schedule of fees for services where appropriate.
[ 2016 sp.s. c 12 § 2; 2014 c 112 § 110; 2005 c 136 § 12; 1993 c 280 § 7; ]
The department shall (a) assist in expanding the state's role as an international center of trade, culture, and finance; (b) promote and market the state's products and services both nationally and internationally; (c) work in close cooperation with other private and public international trade efforts; (d) act as a centralized location for the assimilation and distribution of trade information; and (e) establish and operate foreign offices promoting overseas trade and commerce.
The department shall identify and work with Washington businesses that can use local, state, and federal assistance to increase domestic and foreign exports of goods and services.
The department shall work generally with small businesses and other employers to facilitate resolution of siting, regulatory, expansion, and retention problems. This assistance shall include but not be limited to assisting in workforce training and infrastructure needs, identifying and locating suitable business sites, and resolving problems with government licensing and regulatory requirements. The department shall identify gaps in needed services and develop steps to address them including private sector support and purchase of these services.
The department shall work to increase the availability of capital to small businesses by developing new and flexible investment tools; by assisting in targeting and improving the efficiency of existing investment mechanisms; and by assisting in the procurement of managerial and technical assistance necessary to attract potential investors.
The department shall assist women and minority-owned businesses in overcoming barriers to entrepreneurial success. The department shall contract with public and private agencies, institutions, and organizations to conduct entrepreneurial training courses for minority and women-owned businesses. The instruction shall be intensive, practical training courses in financing, marketing, managing, accounting, and recordkeeping for a small business, with an emphasis on federal, state, local, or private programs available to assist small businesses. Instruction shall be offered in major population centers throughout the state at times and locations that are convenient for minority and women small business owners.
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Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, by December 1, 2010, the department, in conjunction with the small business development center, must prepare and present to the governor and appropriate legislative committees a specific, actionable plan to increase access to capital and technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs beginning with the 2011-2013 biennium. In developing the plan, the department and the center may consult with the Washington state microenterprise association, and with other government, nonprofit, and private organizations as necessary. The plan must identify:
Existing sources of capital and technical assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs;
Critical gaps and barriers to availability of capital and delivery of technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs;
Workable solutions to filling the gaps and removing barriers identified in (a)(ii) of this subsection; and
The financial resources and statutory changes necessary to put the plan into effect beginning with the 2011-2013 biennium.
With respect to increasing access to capital, the plan must identify specific, feasible sources of capital and practical mechanisms for expanding access to it.
The department and the center must include, within the analysis and recommendations in (a) of this subsection, any specific gaps, barriers, and solutions related to rural and low-income communities and small manufacturers interested in exporting.
[ 2010 c 165 § 2; 2005 c 136 § 13; 1993 c 280 § 9; ]
In carrying out its responsibilities under RCW 43.330.060 and 43.330.080, the department must establish protocols to be followed by associate development organizations and department staff for the recruitment and retention of businesses. The protocols must specify the circumstances under which an associate development organization is required to notify the department of its business recruitment and retention efforts and when the department must notify the associate development organization of its business recruitment and retention efforts. The protocols established may not require the release of proprietary information or the disclosure of information that a client company has requested remain confidential. The department must require compliance with the protocols in its contracts with associate development organizations.
[ 2011 c 286 § 1; ]
The *department of community, trade, and economic development, in consultation with the office of protocol, the office of the secretary of state, the department of agriculture, and the employment security department shall identify up to fifteen countries that are of strategic importance to the development of Washington's international trade relations.
[ 1996 c 253 § 303; ]
An international company investing in Washington is included within the definition of person in RCW 82.04.030 and is eligible for excise tax incentives provided in Title 82 RCW in the same manner as any domestic company.
[ 2005 c 135 § 2; ]
The department shall work closely with local communities to increase their capacity to respond to economic, environmental, and social problems and challenges. The department shall coordinate the delivery of development services and technical assistance 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 and opportunity in communities throughout the state. The department shall promote appropriate local development by: Supporting the ability of communities to develop and implement strategic development plans; assisting businesses to start up, maintain, or expand their operations; encouraging public infrastructure investment and private and public capital investment in local communities; supporting efforts to manage growth and provide affordable housing and housing services; providing for the identification and preservation of the state's historical and cultural resources; and expanding employment opportunities.
The department shall define a set of services including training and technical assistance that it will make available to local communities, community-based nonprofit organizations, regional areas, or businesses. The department shall simplify access to these programs by providing more centralized and user-friendly information and referral. The department shall coordinate community and economic development efforts to minimize program redundancy and maximize accessibility. The department shall develop a set of criteria for targeting services to local communities.
The department shall develop a coordinated and systematic approach to providing training to community-based nonprofit organizations, local communities, and businesses. The approach 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, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. The department shall emphasize providing training in those communities most in need of state assistance.
[ 1993 c 280 § 10; ]
The department shall provide technical assistance in the compilation of and support in the production of the handouts to be published and kept current by counties and cities under RCW 36.70B.220.
[ 1996 c 206 § 11; ]
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The department must contract with county-designated associate development organizations to increase the support for and coordination of community and economic development services in communities or regional areas. The contracting organizations in each community or regional area must:
Be broadly representative of community and economic interests;
Be capable of identifying key economic and community development problems, developing appropriate solutions, and mobilizing broad support for recommended initiatives;
Work closely with the department to carry out state-identified economic development priorities;
Work with and include local governments, local chambers of commerce, workforce development councils, port districts, labor groups, institutions of higher education, community action programs, and other appropriate private, public, or nonprofit community and economic development groups; and
Meet and share best practices with other associate development organizations at least two times each year.
The scope of services delivered under the contracts required in (a) of this subsection must include two broad areas of work:
Direct assistance, including business planning, to companies throughout the county who need support to stay in business, expand, or relocate to Washington from out of state or other countries. Assistance must comply with business recruitment and retention protocols established in RCW 43.330.062, and includes:
Working with the appropriate partners throughout the county including, but not limited to, local governments, workforce development councils, port districts, community and technical colleges and higher education institutions, export assistance providers, impact Washington, the Washington state quality award council, small business assistance programs, innovation partnership zones, and other federal, state, and local programs to facilitate the alignment of planning efforts and the seamless delivery of business support services within the entire county;
Providing information on state and local permitting processes, tax issues, export assistance, and other essential information for operating, expanding, or locating a business in Washington;
Marketing Washington and local areas as excellent locations to expand or relocate a business and positioning Washington as a globally competitive place to grow business, which may include developing and executing regional plans to attract companies from out of state;
Working with businesses on-site location and selection assistance;
Providing business retention and expansion services throughout the county. Such services must include, but are not limited to, business outreach and monitoring efforts to identify and address challenges and opportunities faced by businesses, assistance to trade impacted businesses in applying for grants from the federal trade adjustment assistance for firms program, and the provision of information to businesses on:
I. Resources available for microenterprise development;
Resources available on the revitalization of commercial districts; and
The opportunity to maintain jobs through shared work programs authorized under chapter 50.60 RCW;
Participating in economic development systemwide discussions regarding gaps in business start-up assistance in Washington;
Providing or facilitating the provision of export assistance through workshops or one-on-one assistance; and
Using a web-based information system to track data on business recruitment, retention, expansion, and trade; and
Support for regional economic research and regional planning efforts to implement target industry sector strategies and other economic development strategies, including cluster-based strategies. Research and planning efforts should support increased living standards and increased foreign direct investment, and be aligned with the statewide economic development strategy. Regional associate development organizations retain their independence to address local concerns and goals. Activities include:
Participating in regional planning efforts with workforce development councils involving coordinated strategies around workforce development and economic development policies and programs. Coordinated planning efforts must include, but not be limited to, assistance to industry clusters in the region;
Participating with the state board for community and technical colleges as created in RCW 28B.50.050, and any community and technical colleges in the coordination of the job skills training program and the customized training program within its region;
Collecting and reporting data as specified by the contract with the department for statewide systemic analysis. In cooperation with other local, regional, and state planning efforts, contracting organizations may provide insight into the needs of target industry clusters, business expansion plans, early detection of potential relocations or layoffs, training needs, and other appropriate economic information;
In conjunction with other governmental jurisdictions and institutions, participating in the development of a countywide economic development plan.
The department must provide business services training to the contracting organizations, including but not limited to:
Training in the fundamentals of export assistance and the services available from private and public export assistance providers in the state; and
Training in the provision of business retention and expansion services as required by subsection (1)(b)(i)(E) of this section.
[ 2014 c 112 § 111; 2012 c 195 § 1; 2011 c 286 § 2; 2009 c 151 § 10; 2007 c 249 § 2; 1997 c 60 § 1; 1993 c 280 § 11; ]
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Contracting associate development organizations must provide the department with measures of their performance and a summary of best practices shared and implemented by the contracting organizations. Annual reports must include the following information to show the contracting organization's impact on employment and overall changes in employment: Current employment and economic information for the community or regional area produced by the employment security department; the net change from the previous year's employment and economic information using data produced by the employment security department; other relevant information on the community or regional area; the amount of funds received by the contracting organization through its contract with the department; the amount of funds received by the contracting organization through all sources; and the contracting organization's impact on employment through all funding sources. Annual reports may include the impact of the contracting organization on wages, exports, tax revenue, small business creation, foreign direct investment, business relocations, expansions, terminations, and capital investment. Data must be input into a common web-based business information system managed by the department. Specific measures, data standards, and data definitions must be developed in the contracting process between the department and the contracting organization every two years. Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, performance measures should be consistent across regions to allow for statewide evaluation.
In addition to the measures required in (a) of this subsection, contracting associate development organizations in counties with a population greater than one million five hundred thousand persons must include the following measures in reports to the department:
The number of small businesses that received retention and expansion services, and the outcome of those services;
The number of businesses located outside of the boundaries of the largest city within the contracting associate development organization's region that received recruitment, retention, and expansion services, and the outcome of those services.
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The department and contracting associate development organizations must agree upon specific target levels for the performance measures in subsection (1) of this section. Comparison of agreed thresholds and actual performance must occur annually.
Contracting organizations that fail to achieve the agreed performance targets in more than one-half of the agreed measures must develop remediation plans to address performance gaps. The remediation plans must include revised performance thresholds specifically chosen to provide evidence of progress in making the identified service changes.
Contracts and state funding must be terminated for one year for organizations that fail to achieve the agreed upon progress toward improved performance defined under (b) of this subsection. During the year in which termination for nonperformance is in effect, organizations must review alternative delivery strategies to include reorganization of the contracting organization, merging of previous efforts with existing regional partners, and other specific steps toward improved performance. At the end of the period of termination, the department may contract with the associate development organization or its successor as it deems appropriate.
The department must submit a final report to the legislature by December 31st of each even-numbered year on the performance results of the contracts with associate development organizations.
[ 2014 c 112 § 112; 2012 c 195 § 2; 2011 c 286 § 3; 2009 c 518 § 15; 2007 c 249 § 3; ]
Up to five associate development organizations per year contracting with the department under chapter 249, Laws of 2007 that apply for the Washington state quality award or its equivalent shall receive reimbursement for the award application fee, but may not be reimbursed more than once every three years.
[ 2007 c 249 § 4; ]
To the extent that funds are specifically appropriated therefor, contracts with associate development organizations for the provision of services under *RCW 43.330.080(1) shall be awarded according to the following annual schedule:
For associate development associations serving urban counties, which are counties other than rural counties as defined in RCW 82.14.370, a locally matched allocation of up to ninety cents per capita, totaling no more than three hundred thousand dollars per organization; and
For associate development associations in rural counties, as defined in RCW 82.14.370, a per county base allocation of up to forty thousand dollars and a locally matched allocation of up to ninety cents per capita.
[ 2008 c 131 § 3; 2007 c 249 § 5; ]
The department shall work with private sector organizations, industry and sector associations, federal agencies, state agencies that use a sector-based approach to service delivery, local governments, local associate development organizations, and higher education and training institutions in the development of industry sector-based strategies to diversify the economy, facilitate technology transfer and diffusion, and increase value-added production. The industry sectors targeted by the department may include, but are not limited to, aerospace, agriculture, food processing, forest products, marine services, health and biomedical, software, digital and interactive media, transportation and distribution, and microelectronics. The department shall, on a continuing basis, evaluate the potential return to the state from devoting additional resources to an industry sector-based approach to economic development and identifying and assisting additional sectors.
The department's sector-based strategies shall include, but not be limited to, cluster-based strategies that focus on assisting regional industry sectors and related firms and institutions that meet the definition of an industry cluster in this section and based on criteria identified by the working group established in this chapter.
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The department shall promote, market, and encourage growth in the production of films and videos, as well as television commercials within the state; to this end the department is directed to assist in the location of a film and video production studio within the state.
The department may, in carrying out its efforts to encourage film and video production in the state, solicit and receive gifts, grants, funds, fees, and endowments, in trust or otherwise, from tribal, local, or other governmental entities, as well as private sources, and may expend the same or any income therefrom for the encouragement of film and video production. All revenue received for such purposes shall be deposited into the general fund.
In assisting in the development of regional and statewide industry cluster-based strategies, the department's activities shall include, but are not limited to:
Facilitating regional focus group discussions and conducting studies to identify industry clusters, appraise the current information linkages within a cluster, and identify issues of common concern within a cluster;
Supporting industry and cluster associations, publications of association and cluster directories, and related efforts to create or expand the activities of industry and cluster associations;
Administering a competitive grant program to fund economic development activities designed to further regional cluster growth. In administering the program, the department shall work with the workforce training and education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, the employment security department, business, and labor.
The department shall seek recommendations on criteria for evaluating applications for grant funds and recommend applicants for receipt of grant funds. Criteria shall include not duplicating the purpose or efforts of industry skill panels.
Applicants must include organizations from at least two counties and participants from the local business community. Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to, local governments, economic development councils, chambers of commerce, federally recognized Indian tribes, workforce development councils, and educational institutions.
Applications must evidence financial participation of the partner organizations.
Eligible activities include the formation of cluster economic development partnerships, research and analysis of economic development needs of the cluster, the development of a plan to meet the economic development needs of the cluster, and activities to implement the plan.
Priority shall be given to applicants that complement industry skill panels and will use the grant funds to build linkages and joint projects.
The maximum amount of a grant is one hundred thousand dollars.
A maximum of one hundred thousand dollars total can go to King, Pierce, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties combined.
No more than ten percent of funds received for the grant program may be used by the department for administrative costs.
As used in this chapter, "industry cluster" means a geographic concentration of interconnected companies in a single industry, related businesses in other industries, including suppliers and customers, and associated institutions, including government and education.
[ 2014 c 112 § 113; 2012 c 198 § 3; 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 § 59; 2009 c 151 § 1; 2007 c 228 § 201; 2006 c 105 § 1; 2005 c 136 § 14; 2003 c 153 § 2; 1998 c 245 § 85; 1994 c 144 § 1; 1993 c 280 § 12; ]
The tourism development and promotion account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from RCW 36.102.060(10) must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used by the department of commerce only for the purposes of expanding and promoting the tourism industry in the state of Washington. During the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the tourism development and promotion account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the account.
[ 2011 c 5 § 913; 2009 c 565 § 6; 2007 c 228 § 202; 2003 c 153 § 4; 1997 c 220 § 223 (Referendum Bill No. 48, approved June 17, 1997); ]
The department shall support the development and maintenance of local infrastructure and public facilities and provide local communities with flexible sources of funding. The department shall coordinate grant and loan programs that provide infrastructure and investment in local communities. This shall include coordinating funding for eligible projects with other federal, state, local, private, and nonprofit funding sources.
At a minimum, the department shall provide coordinated procedures for applying for and tracking grants and loans among and between the community economic revitalization board, the public works trust fund, and community development block grants.
[ 1993 c 280 § 13; ]
The department shall maintain an active effort to help communities, families, and individuals build and maintain capacity to meet housing needs in Washington state. The department shall facilitate partnerships among the many entities related to housing issues and leverage a variety of resources and services to produce comprehensive, cost-effective, and innovative housing solutions.
The department shall assist in the production, development, rehabilitation, and operation of owner-occupied or rental housing for very low, low, and moderate-income persons; operate programs to assist homeownership, offer housing services, and provide emergency, transitional, and special needs housing services; and qualify as a participating state agency for all programs of the federal department of housing and urban development or its successor. The department shall develop or assist local governments in developing housing plans required by the state or federal government.
The department shall coordinate and administer energy assistance and residential energy conservation and rehabilitation programs of the federal and state government through nonprofit organizations, local governments, and housing authorities.
[ 1993 c 280 § 14; ]
The department shall serve as the central coordinator for state government in the implementation of the growth management act, chapter 36.70A RCW. The department shall work closely with all Washington communities planning for future growth and responding to the pressures of urban sprawl. The department shall ensure coordinated implementation of the growth management act by state agencies.
The department shall offer technical and financial assistance to cities and counties planning under the growth management act. The department shall help local officials interpret and implement the different requirements of the act through workshops, model ordinances, and information materials.
The department shall provide alternative dispute resolution to jurisdictions and organizations to mediate disputes and to facilitate consistent implementation of the growth management act. The department shall review local governments compliance with the requirements of the growth management act and make recommendations to the governor.
[ 1993 c 280 § 15; ]
The department of commerce shall provide training and technical assistance to counties and cities to assist them in fulfilling the requirements of chapter 36.70B RCW.
[ 2009 c 565 § 7; 1995 c 347 § 430; ]
The department shall coordinate services to communities that are directed to the poor and disadvantaged through private and public nonprofit organizations and units of general purpose local governments. The department shall coordinate these programs using, to the extent possible, integrated case management methods, with other community and economic development efforts that promote self-sufficiency.
These services may include, but not be limited to, comprehensive education services to preschool children from low-income families, providing for human service needs and advocacy, promoting volunteerism and citizen service as a means for accomplishing local community and economic development goals, and providing for human service needs through community-based organizations.
The department shall provide local communities and at-risk individuals with programs that provide community protection and assist in developing strategies to reduce substance abuse. The department shall administer programs that develop collaborative approaches to prevention, intervention, and interdiction programs. The department shall administer programs that support crime victims, address youth and domestic violence problems, provide indigent defense for low-income persons, border town disputes, and administer family services and programs to promote the state's policy as provided in RCW 74.14A.025.
The department shall provide fire protection and emergency management services to support and strengthen local capacity for controlling risk to life, property, and community vitality that may result from fires, emergencies, and disasters.
[ 2010 c 68 § 2; 1993 c 280 § 16; ]
The department of commerce shall distribute such funds as are appropriated for the statewide technical support, development, and enhancement of court-appointed special advocate programs.
In order to receive money under subsection (1) of this section, an organization providing statewide technical support, development, and enhancement of court-appointed special advocate programs must meet all of the following requirements:
The organization must provide statewide support, development, and enhancement of court-appointed special advocate programs that offer guardian ad litem services as provided in RCW 26.12.175, 26.44.053, and 13.34.100;
All guardians ad litem working under court-appointed special advocate programs supported, developed, or enhanced by the organization must be volunteers and may not receive payment for services rendered pursuant to the program. The organization may include paid positions that are exclusively administrative in nature, in keeping with the scope and purpose of this section; and
The organization providing statewide technical support, development, and enhancement of court-appointed special advocate programs must be a public benefit nonprofit corporation as defined in RCW 24.03.490.
If more than one organization is eligible to receive money under this section, the department shall develop criteria for allocation of appropriated money among the eligible organizations.
[ 2009 c 565 § 8; 1995 c 13 § 1; ]
The department shall ensure that none of its rules or practices act to exclude recipients of temporary assistance for needy families from any small business loan opportunities or entrepreneurial assistance it makes available through its community development block grant program or otherwise provides using state or federal resources. The department shall encourage local administrators of microlending programs using public funds to conduct outreach activities to encourage recipients of temporary assistance for needy families to explore self-employment as an option. The department shall compile information on private and public sources of entrepreneurial assistance and loans for start-up businesses and provide the department of social and health services with the information for dissemination to recipients of temporary assistance for needy families.
The department shall, as part of its industrial recruitment efforts, work with the workforce training and education coordinating board to identify the skill sets needed by companies locating in the state. The department shall provide the department of social and health services with the information about the companies' needs in order that recipients of public assistance and service providers assisting such recipients through training and placement programs may be informed and respond accordingly. The department shall work with the state board for community and technical colleges, the job skills program, the employment security department, and other employment and training programs to facilitate the inclusion of recipients of temporary assistance for needy families in relevant training that would make them good employees for recruited firms.
The department shall perform the duties under this section within available funds.
[ 1997 c 58 § 323; ]
The department is authorized to charge reasonable fees to cover costs for conferences, workshops, and training purposes and to expend those fees for the purposes for which they were collected.
[ 1994 c 284 § 1; ]
In order to extend its services and programs, the department may charge reasonable fees for services and products provided in the areas of financial assistance, housing, international trade, community assistance, economic development, and other service delivery areas, except as otherwise provided. These fees are not intended to exceed the costs of providing the service or preparing and distributing the product.
[ 1994 c 284 § 2; ]
The community and economic development fee account is created in the state treasury. The department may create subaccounts as necessary. The account consists of all receipts from fees charged by the department under RCW 43.330.150, 43.330.152, and * 43.210.110. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of this chapter. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. Expenditures from the account may be spent only after appropriation.
[ 1994 c 284 § 4; ]
The fees authorized under RCW 43.330.150, 43.330.152, * 70.95H.040, and ** 43.210.110 shall be adopted by rule pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW.
[ 1994 c 284 § 8; ]
The department shall work with the advisory group established in subsection (2) of this section to review proposals and make prioritized funding recommendations to the department or funding approval board that oversees the distribution of housing trust fund grants and loans to be used for the development, maintenance, and operation of housing for low-income farmworkers.
A farmworker housing advisory group representing growers, farmworkers, and other interested parties shall be formed to assist the department in the review and priority funding recommendations under this section.
[ 1998 c 37 § 8; ]
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There is created in the custody of the state treasurer an account to be known as the Washington youth and families fund. Revenues to the fund consist of appropriations by the legislature, private contributions, and all other sources deposited in the fund.
Expenditures from the fund may only be used for the purposes of the program established in this section, including administrative expenses. Only the director of the department of commerce, or the director's designee, may authorize expenditures.
Expenditures from the fund are exempt from appropriations and the allotment provisions of chapter 43.88 RCW. However, money used for program administration by the department is subject to the allotment and budgetary controls of chapter 43.88 RCW, and an appropriation is required for these expenditures.
The department may expend moneys from the fund to provide state matching funds for housing-based supportive services for homeless youth and families.
Activities eligible for funding through the fund include, but are not limited to, the following:
Case management;
Counseling;
Referrals to employment support and job training services and direct employment support and job training services;
Domestic violence services and programs;
Mental health treatment, services, and programs;
Substance abuse treatment, services, and programs;
Parenting skills education and training;
Transportation assistance;
Child care; and
Other supportive services identified by the department to be an important link for housing stability.
Organizations that may receive funds from the fund include local housing authorities, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations, public development authorities, federally recognized Indian tribes in the state, and regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations.
[ 2015 c 69 § 24; 2009 c 565 § 9; 2004 c 276 § 718; ]
The office of community development of the department of commerce is directed to conduct a statewide housing market analysis by region. The purpose of the analysis is to identify areas of greatest need for the appropriate investment of state affordable housing funds, using vacancy data and other appropriate measures of need for low-income housing. The analysis shall include the number and types of projects that counties have developed using the funds collected under chapter 294, Laws of 2002. The analysis shall be completed by September 2003, and updated every two years thereafter.
[ 2009 c 565 § 10; 2002 c 294 § 4; ]
Counties may submit a petition for relief to the office of public defense for reimbursement of extraordinary criminal justice costs. Extraordinary criminal justice costs are defined as those associated with investigation, prosecution, indigent defense, jury impanelment, expert witnesses, interpreters, incarceration, and other adjudication costs of aggravated murder cases.
The office of public defense, in consultation with the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys and the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, shall develop procedures for processing the petitions, for auditing the veracity of the petitions, and for prioritizing the petitions. Prioritization of the petitions shall be based on, but not limited to, such factors as disproportionate fiscal impact relative to the county budget, efficient use of resources, and whether the costs are extraordinary and could not be reasonably accommodated and anticipated in the normal budget process.
Before January 1st of each year, the office of public defense, in consultation with the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys and the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, shall develop and submit to the appropriate fiscal committees of the senate and house of representatives a prioritized list of submitted petitions that are recommended for funding by the legislature.
[ 1999 c 303 § 1; ]
The economic development strategic reserve account is created in the state treasury to be used only for the purposes of this section.
Only the governor, with the recommendation of the director of the department of commerce, may authorize expenditures from the account.
During the 2009-2011 and 2011-2013 fiscal biennia, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
Expenditures from the account may be made to prevent closure of a business or facility, to prevent relocation of a business or facility in the state to a location outside the state, or to recruit a business or facility to the state. Expenditures may be authorized for:
Workforce development;
Public infrastructure needed to support or sustain the operations of the business or facility;
Other lawfully provided assistance including, but not limited to, technical assistance, environmental analysis, relocation assistance, and planning assistance. Funding may be provided for such assistance only when it is in the public interest and may only be provided under a contractual arrangement ensuring that the state will receive appropriate consideration, such as an assurance of job creation or retention; and
The joint center for aerospace technology innovation.
The funds shall not be expended from the account unless:
The circumstances are such that time does not permit the director of the department of commerce or the business or facility to secure funding from other state sources;
The business or facility produces or will produce significant long-term economic benefits to the state, a region of the state, or a particular community in the state;
The business or facility does not require continuing state support;
The expenditure will result in new jobs, job retention, or higher incomes for citizens of the state;
The expenditure will not supplant private investment; and
The expenditure is accompanied by private investment.
No more than three million dollars per year may be expended from the account for the purpose of assisting an individual business or facility pursuant to the authority specified in this section.
If the account balance in the strategic reserve account exceeds fifteen million dollars at any time, the amount in excess of fifteen million dollars shall be transferred to the education construction account.
During the 2017-2019 and 2019-2021 fiscal biennia, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the account to fund programs and grants at the department of commerce. It is the intent of the legislature that this policy will be continued in subsequent fiscal biennia.
[ 2019 c 415 § 974; 2017 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 975; 2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 § 962; 2014 c 112 § 114; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 24 § 1; 2011 1st sp.s. c 50 § 956; 2009 c 565 § 13; 2009 c 564 § 943; 2008 c 329 § 914; 2005 c 427 § 1; ]
The department shall make available, within existing resources, an inventory of grant opportunities for state agencies, local governments, and other community organizations engaged in economic development activities.
In developing the inventory of economic development grant opportunities, the department may:
Regularly review the federal register for opportunities to apply for grants, research projects, and demonstration projects;
Maintain an inventory of grant opportunities with private foundations and businesses; and
Consult with federal officials, including but not limited to those in the small business administration, the department of labor, the department of commerce, the department of agriculture, the department of ecology, as well as private foundations and businesses, on the prospects for obtaining federal and private funds for economic development purposes in Washington state.
The department may also facilitate joint efforts between agencies and between local organizations and state agencies that will increase the likelihood of success in grant seeking and the attraction of major events.
[ 2006 c 314 § 2; ]
The department must design and implement an innovation partnership zone program through which the state will encourage and support research institutions, workforce training organizations, and globally competitive companies to work cooperatively in close geographic proximity to create commercially viable products and jobs.
The director must designate innovation partnership zones on the basis of the following criteria:
Innovation partnership zones must have three types of institutions operating within their boundaries, or show evidence of planning and local partnerships that will lead to dense concentrations of these institutions:
Research capacity in the form of a university or community college fostering commercially valuable research, nonprofit institutions creating commercially applicable innovations, or a national laboratory;
An industry cluster as defined in RCW 43.330.090. The cluster must include a dense proximity of globally competitive firms in a research-based industry or industries or individual firms with innovation strategies linked to (a)(i) of this subsection. A globally competitive firm may be signified through international organization for standardization 9000 or 1400 certification, or evidence of sales in international markets; and
Training capacity either within the zone or readily accessible to the zone. The training capacity requirement may be met by the same institution as the research capacity requirement, to the extent both are associated with an educational institution in the proposed zone;
The support of a local jurisdiction, a research institution, an educational institution, an industry or cluster association, a workforce development council, and an associate development organization, port, or chamber of commerce;
Identifiable boundaries for the zone within which the applicant will concentrate efforts to connect innovative researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, industry associations or clusters, and training providers. The geographic area defined should lend itself to a distinct identity and have the capacity to accommodate firm growth;
The innovation partnership zone administrator must be an economic development council, port, workforce development council, city, or county.
With respect solely to the research capacity required in subsection (2)(a)(i) of this section, the director may waive the requirement that the research institution be located within the zone. To be considered for such a waiver, an applicant must provide a specific plan that demonstrates the research institution's unique qualifications and suitability for the zone, and the types of jointly executed activities that will be used to ensure ongoing, face-to-face interaction and research collaboration among the zone's partners.
On October 1st of each odd-numbered year, the director must designate innovation partnership zones on the basis of applications that meet the legislative criteria, estimated economic impact of the zone, evidence of forward planning for the zone, and other criteria as developed by the department. Estimated economic impact must include evidence of anticipated private investment, job creation, innovation, and commercialization. The director must require evidence that zone applicants will promote commercialization, innovation, and collaboration among zone residents.
Innovation partnership zones are eligible for funds and other resources as provided by the legislature or at the discretion of the governor.
If the innovation partnership zone meets the other requirements of the fund sources, then the zone is eligible for the following funds relating to:
The local infrastructure financing tools program;
The sales and use tax for public facilities in rural counties;
Job skills;
Local improvement districts; and
Community economic revitalization board projects under chapter 43.160 RCW.
An innovation partnership zone must be designated as a zone for a four-year period. At the end of the four-year period, the zone must reapply for the designation through the department.
If the director finds that an applicant does not meet all of the statutory criteria or additional criteria recommended by the department to be designated as an innovation partnership zone, the department must:
Identify the deficiencies in the proposal and recommended steps for the applicant to take to strengthen the proposal;
Provide the applicant with the opportunity to appeal the decision to the director; and
Allow the applicant to reapply for innovation partnership designation on October 1st of the following calendar year or during any subsequent application cycle.
If the director finds at any time after the initial year of designation that an innovation partnership zone is failing to meet the performance standards required in its contract with the department, the director may withdraw such designation and cease state funding of the zone.
The department must convene annual information sharing events for innovation partnership zone administrators and other interested parties.
An innovation partnership zone must annually provide performance measures as required by the director, including but not limited to private investment measures, job creation measures, and measures of innovation such as licensing of ideas in research institutions, patents, or other recognized measures of innovation.
The department must compile a biennial report on the innovation partnership zone program by December 1st of every even-numbered year. The report must provide information for each zone on its: Objectives; funding, tax incentives, and other support obtained from public sector sources; major activities; partnerships; performance measures; and outcomes achieved since the inception of the zone or since the previous biennial report. The department must submit the report to the governor and legislature beginning December 1, 2010.
[ 2014 c 112 § 115; 2012 c 225 § 1; 2009 c 72 § 1; 2007 c 227 § 1; ]
The department shall document clusters of companies throughout the state that have comparative competitive advantage or the potential for comparative competitive advantage, using the process and criteria for identifying strategic clusters developed by the working group specified in subsection (2) of this section.
The department and the workforce training and education coordinating board shall jointly convene a working group to:
Specify the process and criteria for identification of substate geographic concentrations of firms or employment in an industry and the industry's customers, suppliers, supporting businesses, and institutions, which process will include the use of labor market information from the employment security department and local labor markets; and
Establish criteria for identifying strategic clusters which are important to economic prosperity in the state, considering cluster size, growth rate, and wage levels among other factors.
[ 2014 c 112 § 116; 2012 c 229 § 708; 2009 c 565 § 14; 2009 c 72 § 2; 2007 c 227 § 2; ]
The financial fraud and identity theft crimes investigation and prosecution program is created in the department of commerce. The department shall:
Appoint members of the financial fraud task forces created in subsection (2) of this section;
Administer the account created in subsection (3) of this section; and
By December 31st of each year submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature and the governor regarding the progress of the program and task forces. The report must include information regarding the use of funds and funding needs to facilitate a biennial review of the program's funding. The report must also include recommendations on changes to the program, including expansion.
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The department shall establish two regional financial fraud and identity theft crime task forces that include a central Puget Sound task force that includes King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, and a Spokane county task force. Each task force must be comprised of local law enforcement, county prosecutors, representatives of the office of the attorney general, financial institutions, and other state and local law enforcement.
The department shall appoint: (i) Representatives of local law enforcement from a list provided by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs; (ii) representatives of county prosecutors from a list provided by the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys; and (iii) representatives of financial institutions.
Each task force shall:
Hold regular meetings to discuss emerging trends and threats of local financial fraud and identity theft crimes;
Set priorities for the activities for the task force;
Apply to the department for funding to (A) hire prosecutors and/or law enforcement personnel dedicated to investigating and prosecuting financial fraud and identity theft crimes; and (B) acquire other needed resources to conduct the work of the task force;
Establish outcome-based performance measures; and
Twice annually report to the department regarding the activities and performance of the task force.
The financial fraud and identity theft crimes investigation and prosecution account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Revenue to the account may include appropriations, revenues generated by the surcharge imposed in RCW 62A.9A-525, federal funds, and any other gifts or grants. Expenditures from the account may be used only to support the activities of the financial fraud and identity theft crime investigation and prosecution task forces and the program administrative expenses of the department, which may not exceed ten percent of the amount appropriated.
For purposes of this section, "financial fraud and identity theft crimes" includes those that involve: Check fraud, chronic unlawful issuance of bank checks, embezzlement, credit/debit card fraud, identity theft, forgery, counterfeit instruments such as checks or documents, organized counterfeit check rings, and organized identification theft rings.
This section expires July 1, 2030.
[ 2020 c 60 § 1; 2015 c 65 § 1; 2009 c 565 § 16; 2008 c 290 § 1; ]
The legislature establishes a comprehensive green economy jobs growth initiative based on the goal of, by 2020, increasing the number of green economy jobs to twenty-five thousand from the eight thousand four hundred green economy jobs the state had in 2004.
The department, in consultation with the employment security department, the state workforce training and education coordinating board, and the state board for community and technical colleges, shall develop a defined list of terms, consistent with current workforce and economic development terms, associated with green economy industries and jobs.
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The employment security department, in consultation with the department, the state workforce training and education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, Washington State University small business development center, and the Washington State University extension energy program, shall conduct labor market research to analyze the current labor market and projected job growth in the green economy, the current and projected recruitment and skill requirement of green economy industry employers, the wage and benefits ranges of jobs within green economy industries, and the education and training requirements of entry-level and incumbent workers in those industries.
The employment security department shall conduct an analysis of occupations in the forest products industry to: (A) Determine key growth factors and employment projections in the industry; and (B) define the education and skill standards required for current and emerging green occupations in the industry.
The term "forest products industry" must be given a broad interpretation when implementing (a)(i) of this subsection and includes, but is not limited to, businesses that grow, manage, harvest, transport, and process forest, wood, and paper products.
The University of Washington business and economic development center shall: Analyze the current opportunities for and participation in the green economy by minority and women-owned business enterprises in Washington; identify existing barriers to their successful participation in the green economy; and develop strategies with specific policy recommendations to improve their successful participation in the green economy. The research may be informed by the research of the Puget Sound regional council prosperity partnership, as well as other entities. The University of Washington business and economic development center shall report to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate on their research, analysis, and recommendations by December 1, 2008.
Based on the findings from subsection (3) of this section, the employment security department, in consultation with the department and taking into account the requirements and goals of chapter 14, Laws of 2008 and other state clean energy and energy efficiency policies, shall propose which industries will be considered high-demand green industries, based on current and projected job creation and their strategic importance to the development of the state's green economy. The employment security department and the department shall take into account which jobs within green economy industries will be considered high-wage occupations and occupations that are part of career pathways to the same, based on family-sustaining wage and benefits ranges. These designations, and the results of the employment security department's broader labor market research, shall inform the planning and strategic direction of the department, the state workforce training and education coordinating board, and the state board for community and technical colleges.
The department shall identify emerging technologies and innovations that are likely to contribute to advancements in the green economy, including the activities in designated innovation partnership zones established in RCW 43.330.270.
The department shall:
Develop targeting criteria for existing investments, and make recommendations for new or expanded financial incentives and comprehensive strategies, to recruit, retain, and expand green economy industries and small businesses; and
Make recommendations for new or expanded financial incentives and comprehensive strategies to stimulate research and development of green technology and innovation, including designating innovation partnership zones linked to the green economy.
For the purposes of this section, "target populations" means (a) entry-level or incumbent workers in high-demand green industries who are in, or are preparing for, high-wage occupations; (b) dislocated workers in declining industries who may be retrained for high-wage occupations in high-demand green industries; (c) dislocated agriculture, timber, or energy sector workers who may be retrained for high-wage occupations in high-demand green industries; (d) eligible veterans or national guard members; (e) disadvantaged populations; or (f) anyone eligible to participate in the state opportunity grant program under RCW 28B.50.271.
The legislature directs the state workforce training and education coordinating board to create and pilot green industry skill panels. These panels shall consist of business representatives from: Green industry sectors, including but not limited to forest product companies, companies engaged in energy efficiency and renewable energy production, companies engaged in pollution prevention, reduction, and mitigation, and companies engaged in green building work and green transportation; labor unions representing workers in those industries or labor affiliates administering state-approved, joint apprenticeship programs or labor-management partnership programs that train workers for these industries; state and local veterans agencies; employer associations; educational institutions; and local workforce development councils within the region that the panels propose to operate; and other key stakeholders as determined by the applicant. Any of these stakeholder organizations are eligible to receive grants under this section and serve as the intermediary that convenes and leads the panel. Panel applicants must provide labor market and industry analysis that demonstrates high demand, or demand of strategic importance to the development of the state's clean energy economy as identified in this section, for high-wage occupations, or occupations that are part of career pathways to the same, within the relevant industry sector. The panel shall:
Conduct labor market and industry analyses, in consultation with the employment security department, and drawing on the findings of its research when available;
Plan strategies to meet the recruitment and training needs of the industry and small businesses; and
Leverage and align other public and private funding sources.
[ 2014 c 112 § 117; 2012 c 229 § 590; 2012 c 198 § 12; 2010 c 187 § 2; 2008 c 14 § 9; ]
The department must: (a) Establish a process to award grants on a competitive basis to provide grants to financial institutions for the purpose of creating credit enhancements, such as loan loss reserve funds as specified in RCW 43.330.330 and 43.330.350, and consumer financial products and services that will be used to obtain energy efficiency services; and (b) develop criteria, in consultation with the department of financial institutions, regarding the extent to which funds will be provided for the purposes of credit enhancements and set forth principles for accountability for financial institutions receiving funding for credit enhancements.
The department must:
Give priority to financial institutions that provide both consumer financial products or services and direct outreach;
Approve any financing mechanisms offered by local municipalities under RCW 43.330.350; and
Require any financial institution or other entity receiving funding for credit enhancements to:
Provide books, accounts, and other records in such a form and manner as the department may require;
Provide an estimate of projected loan losses; and
Provide the financial institution's plan to manage loan loss risks, including the rationale for sizing a loan loss reserve and the use of other credit enhancements, as applicable.
[ 2009 c 379 § 205; ]
The legislature finds that the creation and use of risk reduction mechanisms will promote greater involvement of local financial institutions and other financing mechanisms in funding energy efficiency improvements and will achieve greater leverage of state and federal dollars. Risk reduction mechanisms will allow financial institutions to lend to a broader pool of applicants on more attractive terms, such as potentially lower rates and longer loan terms. Placing a portion of funds in long-term risk reduction mechanisms will support a sustained level of energy efficiency investment by financial institutions while providing funding to projects quickly.
It is the intent of the legislature to leverage new federal funding aimed at promoting energy efficiency projects, improving energy efficiency, and increasing family-wage jobs. To this end, the legislature intends to invest a portion of all federal funding, subject to federal requirements, for energy efficiency projects in financial mechanisms that will provide for maximum leverage of financing.
[ 2009 c 379 § 206; ]
The department may create an appliance efficiency rebate program with available funds from the energy efficient appliances rebate program authorized under the federal energy policy act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58).
[ 2009 c 379 § 207; ]
Local municipalities receiving federal stimulus moneys through the federal energy efficiency and conservation block grant program or state energy program are authorized to use those funds, subject to federal requirements, to establish loan loss reserves or toward risk reduction mechanisms, such as loan loss reserves, to leverage financing for energy efficiency projects.
Interest rate subsidies, financing transaction cost subsidies, capital grants to energy users, and other forms of grants and incentives that support financing energy efficiency projects are authorized uses of federal energy efficiency funding.
Financing mechanisms offered by local municipalities under this section must conform to all applicable state and federal rules and regulations.
[ 2009 c 379 § 208; ]
The legislature finds that the state bond authorities have capacities that can be applied to financing energy efficiency projects for their respective eligible borrowers: Washington economic development finance authority for industry; Washington state housing finance commission for single-family and multifamily housing, commercial properties, agricultural properties, and nonprofit facilities; Washington higher education facilities authority for private, nonprofit higher education; and Washington health care facilities authority for hospitals and all types of health clinics.
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Subject to federal requirements, the state bond authorities may accept and administer an allocation of the state's share of the federal energy efficiency funding for designing energy efficiency finance loan products and for developing and operating energy efficiency finance programs. The state bond authorities shall coordinate with the department on the design of the bond authorities' program.
The department may make allocations of the federal funding to the state bond authorities and may direct and administer funding for outreach, marketing, and delivery of energy services to support the programs by the state bond authorities.
The legislature authorizes a portion of the federal energy efficiency funds to be used by the state bond authorities for credit enhancements and reserves for such programs.
The Washington state housing finance commission may:
Issue revenue bonds as the term "bond" is defined in RCW 43.180.020 for the purpose of financing loans for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvement projects in accordance with RCW 43.180.150;
Establish eligibility criteria for financing that will enable it to choose applicants who are likely to repay loans made or acquired by the commission and funded from the proceeds of federal funds or commission bonds; and
Participate fully in federal and other governmental programs and take such actions as are necessary and consistent with chapter 43.180 RCW to secure to itself and the people of the state the benefits of programs to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
[ 2009 c 379 § 209; ]
The Washington state evergreen jobs initiative is established as a comprehensive green economy jobs growth initiative with the goals of:
Creating fifteen thousand new green economy jobs by 2020, with a target of thirty percent of those jobs going to veterans, members of the national guard, and low-income and disadvantaged populations;
Capturing and deploying federal funds in a focused, effective, and coordinated manner;
Preparing the state's workforce to take full advantage of green economy job opportunities and to meet the recruitment and training needs of industry and small businesses;
Attracting private sector investment that will create new and expand existing jobs, with an emphasis on services and products that have a high economic or environmental impact and can be exported domestically and internationally;
Making Washington state a net exporter of green industry products and services, with special attention to renewable energy technology and components;
Empowering local agencies and organizations to recruit green economy businesses and jobs into the state by providing state support and assistance;
Capitalizing on existing partnership agreements in the Washington works plan and the Washington workforce compact; and
Operating in concert with the fourteen guiding principles identified by the department in its Washington state's green economy strategic framework.
[ 2009 c 536 § 2; ]
The department and the workforce board must:
Coordinate efforts across the state to ensure that federal training and education funds are captured and deployed in a focused and effective manner in order to support green economy projects and accomplish the goals of the evergreen jobs initiative;
Accelerate and coordinate efforts by state and local organizations to identify, apply for, and secure all sources of funds, particularly those created by the 2009 American recovery and reinvestment act, and to ensure that distributions of funding to local organizations are allocated in a manner that is time-efficient and user-friendly for the local organizations. Local organizations eligible to receive support include but are not limited to:
Associate development organizations;
Workforce development councils;
Public utility districts; and
Community action agencies;
Support green economy projects at both the state and local level by developing a process and a framework to provide, at a minimum:
Administrative and technical assistance;
Assistance with and expediting of permit processes; and
Priority consideration of opportunities leading to exportable green economy goods and services, including renewable energy technology;
Coordinate local and state implementation of projects using federal funds to ensure implementation is time-efficient and user-friendly for local organizations;
Emphasize through both support and outreach efforts, projects that:
Have a strong and lasting economic or environmental impact;
Lead to a domestically or internationally exportable good or service, including renewable energy technology;
Create training programs leading to a credential, certificate, or degree in a green economy field;
Strengthen the state's competitiveness in a particular sector or cluster of the green economy;
Create employment opportunities for veterans, members of the national guard, and low-income and disadvantaged populations;
Comply with prevailing wage provisions of chapter 39.12 RCW;
Ensure at least fifteen percent of labor hours are performed by apprentices;
Identify emerging technologies and innovations that are likely to contribute to advancements in the green economy, including the activities in designated innovation partnership zones established in RCW 43.330.270;
Identify barriers to the growth of green jobs in traditional industries such as the forest products industry;
Identify statewide performance metrics for projects receiving agency assistance. Such metrics may include:
The number of new green jobs created each year, their wage levels, and, to the extent determinable, the percentage of new green jobs filled by veterans, members of the national guard, and low-income and disadvantaged populations;
The total amount of new federal funding secured, the respective amounts allocated to the state and local levels, and the timeliness of deployment of new funding by state agencies to the local level;
The timeliness of state deployment of funds and support to local organizations; and
If available, the completion rates, time to completion, and training-related placement rates for green economy postsecondary training programs;
Identify strategies to allocate existing and new funding streams for green economy workforce training programs and education to emphasize those leading to a credential, certificate, or degree in a green economy field;
Identify and implement strategies to allocate existing and new funding streams for workforce development councils and associate development organizations to increase their effectiveness and efficiency and increase local capacity to respond rapidly and comprehensively to opportunities to attract green jobs to local communities;
Develop targeting criteria for existing investments that are consistent with the goals of this section and RCW 28C.18.170, 28B.50.281, and 49.04.200; and
Make and support outreach efforts so that residents of Washington, particularly members of target populations, become aware of educational and employment opportunities identified and funded through the evergreen jobs act.
The department and the workforce board must provide semiannual performance reports to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature on:
Actual statewide performance based on the performance measures identified in subsection (1)(h) of this section;
How the state is emphasizing and supporting projects that lead to a domestically or internationally exportable good or service, including renewable energy technology;
A list of projects supported, created, or funded in furtherance of the goals of the evergreen jobs initiative and the actions taken by state and local organizations, including the effectiveness of state agency support provided to local organizations as directed in subsection (1)(b) and (c) of this section;
Recommendations for new or expanded financial incentives and comprehensive strategies to:
Recruit, retain, and expand green economy industries and small businesses; and
Stimulate research and development of green technology and innovation, which may include designating innovation partnership zones linked to the green economy;
Any information that associate development organizations and workforce development councils choose to provide to appropriate legislative committees regarding the effectiveness, timeliness, and coordination of support provided by state agencies under this section and RCW 28C.18.170, 28B.50.281, and 49.04.200; and
Any recommended statutory changes necessary to increase the effectiveness of the evergreen jobs initiative and state responsiveness to local agencies and organizations.
The definitions, designations, and results of the employment security department's broader labor market research under RCW 43.330.010 shall inform the planning and strategic direction of the department, the state workforce training and education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the student achievement council.
[ 2014 c 112 § 118; 2012 c 229 § 591; 2010 c 187 § 3; 2009 c 536 § 4; ]
The broadband mapping account is established in the custody of the state treasurer. The department shall deposit into the account such funds received from legislative appropriation, federal funding, and donated funds from private and public sources. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of RCW 43.330.403 through 43.330.409. Only the director of the department or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
The department is the single eligible entity in the state for purposes of the federal broadband mapping activities.
Federal funding received by the department for broadband mapping activities must be used in accordance with any federal requirements and, subject to those requirements, may be distributed by the department on a competitive basis to other entities in the state.
The department shall consult with the office of financial management and the utilities and transportation commission in coordinating broadband mapping activities. In carrying out any broadband mapping activities, the provisions of P.L. 110-385, Title I, regarding trade secrets, commercial or financial information, and privileged or confidential information submitted by the federal communications commission or a broadband provider are deemed to encompass the consulted agencies.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 603; 2009 c 509 § 2; ]
Subject to the availability of federal or state funding, the department may:
Develop an interactive website to allow residents to self-report whether high-speed internet is available at their home or residence and at what speed; and
Conduct a detailed survey of all high-speed internet infrastructure owned or leased by state agencies and create a geographic information system map of all high-speed internet infrastructure owned or leased by the state.
State agencies responding to a survey request from the department under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall respond in a reasonable and timely manner, not to exceed one hundred twenty days. The department shall request of state agencies, at a minimum:
The total bandwidth of high-speed internet infrastructure owned or leased;
The cost of maintaining that high-speed internet infrastructure, if owned, or the price paid for the high-speed internet infrastructure, if leased; and
The leasing entity, if applicable.
The department may adopt rules as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
For purposes of this section, "state agency" includes every state office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or other state agency.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 604; 2009 c 509 § 3; ]
The department is authorized, through a competitive bidding process, to procure on behalf of the state a geographic information system map detailing high-speed internet infrastructure, service availability, and adoption. This geographic information system map may include adoption information, availability information, type of high-speed internet deployment technology, and available speed tiers for high-speed internet based on any publicly available data.
The department may procure this map either by:
Contracting for and purchasing a completed map or updates to a map from a third party; or
Working directly with the federal communications commission to accept publicly available data.
The department shall establish an accountability and oversight structure to ensure that there is transparency in the bidding and contracting process and full financial and technical accountability for any information or actions taken by a third-party contractor creating this map.
In contracting for purchase of the map or updates to a map in subsection (2)(a) of this section, the department may take no action, nor impose any condition on the third party, that causes any record submitted by a public or private broadband service provider to the third party to meet the standard of a public record as defined in RCW 42.56.010. This prohibition does not apply to any records delivered to the department by the third party as a component of the map. For the purpose of RCW 42.56.010(3), the purchase by the department of a completed map or updates to a map may not be deemed use or ownership by the department of the underlying information used by the third party to complete the map.
Data or information that is publicly available as of July 1, 2009, will not cease to be publicly available due to any provision of chapter 509, Laws of 2009.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 605; 2009 c 509 § 4; ]
The department, in coordination with the utilities and transportation commission, and such advisors as the department chooses, may prepare regular reports that identify the following:
The geographic areas of greatest priority for the deployment of advanced telecommunications infrastructure in the state;
A detailed explanation of how any amount of funding received from the federal government for the purposes of broadband mapping, deployment, and adoption will be or have been used; and
A determination of how nonfederal sources may be utilized to achieve the purposes of broadband mapping, deployment, and adoption activities in the state.
To the greatest extent possible, the initial report should be based upon the information identified in the geographic system maps developed under the requirements of this chapter.
The initial report should be delivered to the appropriate committees of the legislature as soon as feasible, but no later than January 18, 2010.
Any future reports prepared by the department based upon the requirements of subsection (1) of this section should be delivered to the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 15th of each year.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 606; 2009 c 509 § 5; ]
The digital equity opportunity program is created to advance broadband adoption and digital equity and inclusion throughout the state. The digital equity opportunity program must be administered by the department. The department may contract for services in order to carry out the department's obligations under this section.
In implementing the digital equity opportunity program the director must, to the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose:
Provide organizational and capacity building support to digital equity programs throughout the stateand additional support for the purpose of:
Evaluating the impact and efficacy of activities supported by grants awarded under the covered programs; and
Developing, cataloging, disseminating, and promoting the exchange of best practices, with respect to and independent of the covered programs, in order to achieve digital equity. After July 1, 2024, no more than 15 percent of funds received by the director for the program may be expended on these functions;
Establish a competitive grant program and provide grants to community technology programs to advance digital equity and digital inclusion by providing:
Training and skill-building opportunities;
Access to hardware and software, including online service costs such as application and software;
Internet connectivity;
Digital media literacy and cybersecurity training;
Assistance in the adoption of information and communication technologies for low-income and underserved populations of the state;
Development of locally relevant content and delivery of vital services through technology; and
Technical support;
Collaborate with broadband stakeholders, including broadband action teams across the state, in implementing the program as provided under this subsection; and
For the purposes of this section, include wireless meshed network technology.
Grant applicants must:
Provide evidence that the applicant is a nonprofit entity or a public entity that is working in partnership with a nonprofit entity;
Define the geographic area or population to be served;
Include in the application the results of a needs assessment addressing, in the geographic area or among the population to be served: The impact of inadequacies in technology access or knowledge, barriers faced, and services needed;
Explain in detail the strategy for addressing the needs identified and an implementation plan including objectives, tasks, and benchmarks for the applicant and the role that other organizations will play in assisting the applicant's efforts;
e.
Provide evidence that funds applied for, if received, will be used to provide effective delivery of community technology services in alignment with the goals of this program and to increase the applicant's level of effort beyond the current level; and
f. Comply with such other requirements as the director establishes.
The digital equity forum shall review grant applications and provide input to the director regarding the prioritization of applications in awarding grants among eligible applicants under the program.
In awarding grants under the digital equity opportunity program created in this section, the director must:
Consider the input provided by the digital equity forum, as provided in subsection (3) of this section, in awarding grants; and
Consider the extent to which the mix of grants awarded would increase in the number of prekindergarten through 12th grade students gaining access to greater levels of digital inclusion as a factor in awarding grants.
The director may use no more than 10 percent of funds received for the digital equity opportunity program to cover administrative expenses.
The director must establish expected program outcomes for each grant recipient and must require grant recipients to provide an annual accounting of program outcomes.
Subject to the availability of federal or state funding, the department may convene an advisory group on digital inclusion and technology planning. The advisory group may include, but is not limited to, volunteer representatives from community technology organizations, telecommunications providers, higher education institutions, K-12 education institutions, public health institutions, public housing entities, and local government and other governmental entities that are engaged in community technology activities.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 610; 2009 c 509 § 10; ]
The definitions in this section apply throughout *RCW 43.330.200 through 43.330.230.
"Developmental disability" has the meaning in **RCW 71A.10.020(3).
"Developmental disabilities endowment trust fund" means the fund established in the custody of the state treasurer in *RCW 43.330.200, comprised of private, public, or private and public sources, to finance services for persons with developmental disabilities. All moneys in the fund, all property and rights purchased from the fund, and all income attributable to the fund, shall be held in trust by the state investment board, as provided in RCW 43.33A.030, for the exclusive benefit of fund beneficiaries. The principal and interest of the endowment fund must be maintained until such time as the governing board policy specifies except for the costs and expenses of the state treasurer and the state investment board otherwise provided for in chapter 120, Laws of 2000.
"Governing board" means the developmental disabilities endowment governing board in *RCW 43.330.205.
"Individual trust account" means accounts established within the endowment trust fund for each individual named beneficiary for the benefit of whom contributions have been made to the fund. The money in each of the individual accounts is held in trust as provided for in subsection (2) of this section, and shall not be considered state funds or revenues of the state. The governing board serves as administrator, manager, and recordkeeper for the individual trust accounts for the benefit of the individual beneficiaries. The policies governing the disbursements, and the qualifying services for the trust accounts, shall be established by the governing board. Individual trust accounts are separate accounts within the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund, and are invested for the beneficiaries through the endowment trust fund.
[ 2000 c 120 § 2; ]
The developmental disabilities endowment trust fund is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Expenditures from the fund may be used only for the purposes of the developmental disabilities endowment established under this chapter, except for expenses of the state investment board and the state treasurer as specified in subsection (2) of this section. Only the developmental disabilities endowment governing board or the board's designee may authorize expenditures from the fund. The fund shall retain its interest earnings in accordance with RCW 43.79A.040.
The developmental disabilities endowment governing board shall deposit in the fund all money received for the program, including state appropriations and private contributions. With the exception of investment and operating costs associated with the investment of money by the investment board paid under RCW 43.33A.160 and 43.84.160 and the expenses and operating costs of the state treasurer paid under RCW 43.08.190 and 43.79A.040, the fund shall be credited with all investment income earned by the fund. Disbursements from the fund are exempt from appropriations and the allotment provisions of chapter 43.88 RCW. However, money used for program administration by the department or the governing board is subject to the allotment and budgetary controls of chapter 43.88 RCW, and an appropriation is required for these expenditures.
[ 2000 c 120 § 3; 1999 c 384 § 2; ]
The state investment board has the full power to invest, reinvest, manage, contract, sell, or exchange investment money in the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund. All investment and operating costs associated with the investment of money shall be paid under RCW 43.33A.160 and 43.84.160. With the exception of these expenses, the earnings from the investment of the money shall be retained by the fund.
All investments made by the state investment board shall be made with the exercise of that degree of judgment and care under RCW 43.33A.140 and the investment policy established by the state investment board.
As deemed appropriate by the investment board, money in the fund may be commingled for investment with other funds subject to investment by the board.
The authority to establish all policies relating to the fund, other than the investment policies as set forth in subsections (1) through (3) of this section, resides with the governing board acting in accordance with the principles set forth in *RCW 43.330.220. With the exception of expenses of the state treasurer in *RCW 43.330.200 and the investment board set forth in subsection (1) of this section, disbursements from the fund shall be made only on the authorization of the governing board or the board's designee, and money in the fund may be spent only for the purposes of the developmental disabilities endowment program as specified in this chapter.
The investment board shall routinely consult and communicate with the governing board on the investment policy, earnings of the trust, and related needs of the program.
[ 2000 c 120 § 4; ]
The developmental disabilities endowment governing board is established to design and administer the developmental disabilities endowment. To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the director of the department shall provide staff and administrative support to the governing board.
The governing board shall consist of seven members as follows:
Three of the members, who shall be appointed by the governor, shall be persons who have demonstrated expertise and leadership in areas such as finance, actuarial science, management, business, or public policy.
Three members of the board, who shall be appointed by the governor, shall be persons who have demonstrated expertise and leadership in areas such as business, developmental disabilities service design, management, or public policy, and shall be family members of persons with developmental disabilities.
The seventh member of the board, who shall serve as chair of the board, shall be appointed by the remaining six members of the board.
Members of the board shall serve terms of four years and may be appointed for successive terms of four years at the discretion of the appointing authority. However, the governor may stagger the terms of the initial six members of the board so that approximately one-fourth of the members' terms expire each year.
Members of the board shall be compensated for their service under RCW 43.03.240 and shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
The board shall meet periodically as specified by the call of the chair, or a majority of the board.
Members of the governing board and the state investment board shall not be considered an insurer of the funds or assets of the endowment trust fund or the individual trust accounts. Neither of these two boards or their members shall be liable for the action or inaction of the other.
Members of the governing board and the state investment board are not liable to the state, to the fund, or to any other person as a result of their activities as members, whether ministerial or discretionary, except for willful dishonesty or intentional violations of law. The department and the state investment board, respectively, may purchase liability insurance for members.
[ 2012 c 197 § 1; 2010 c 271 § 201; 2009 c 565 § 11; 2000 c 120 § 5; 1999 c 384 § 4; ]
The design, implementation, and administration of the developmental disabilities endowment shall be governed by the following principles:
The design and operation of the endowment should reward families who set aside resources for their child's future care and provide incentives for continued caregiving by the family.
The endowment should encourage financial planning and reward caregiving by a broad range of families, not just those who have substantial financial resources.
Families should not feel compelled to contribute to the endowment in order to meet the needs of continuing care for their child.
All families should have equal access to developmental disabilities services not funded through the endowment regardless of whether they contribute to the endowment.
Services funded through the endowment should be stable, ongoing, of reasonable quality, and respectful of individual and family preferences.
Endowment resources should be expended economically in order to benefit as many families as possible.
Endowment resources should be managed prudently so that families can be confident that their agreement with the endowment on behalf of their child will be honored.
The private financial contribution on behalf of each person receiving services from the endowment shall be at least equal to the state's contribution to the endowment.
In order to be matched with funding from the state's contribution to the endowment, the private contribution on behalf of a beneficiary must be sufficient to support the beneficiary's approved service plan for a significant portion of the beneficiary's anticipated remaining lifetime.
The rate that state appropriations to the endowment are used to match private contributions shall be such that each legislative appropriation to the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund, including principal and investment income, is not depleted in a period of less than five years.
Private contributions made on behalf of a particular individual, and the associated state match, shall only be used for services provided upon that person's behalf.
State funds contributed to the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund are to support the individual trust accounts established by individual private contributions made by families or other interested persons for named individual beneficiaries.
The governing board shall explore methods to solicit private donations. The governing board shall explore mechanisms to support individuals with developmental disabilities who do not have individual private contributions made on their behalf. The governing board shall establish policies for the use of any private donations.
Types of services funded by money managed through the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund shall be approved by the governing board or its designee.
[ 2000 c 120 § 6; 1999 c 384 § 5; ]
To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the governing board shall contract with an appropriate organization for the development of a proposed operating plan for the developmental disabilities endowment program. The proposed operating plan shall be consistent with the endowment principles specified in *RCW 43.330.220. The plan shall address at least the following elements:
The recommended types of services to be available through the endowment program and their projected average costs per beneficiary;
An assessment of the number of people likely to apply for participation in the endowment under alternative rates of matching funds, minimum service year requirements, and contribution timing approaches;
An actuarial analysis of the number of disabled beneficiaries who are likely to be supported under alternative levels of public contribution to the endowment, and the length of time the beneficiaries are likely to be served, under alternative rates of matching funds, minimum service year requirements, and contribution timing approaches;
Recommended eligibility criteria for participation in the endowment program;
Recommended policies regarding withdrawal of private contributions from the endowment in cases of movement out of state, death of the beneficiary, or other circumstances;
Recommended matching rate of public and private contributions and, for each beneficiary, the maximum annual and lifetime amount of private contributions eligible for public matching funds;
The recommended minimum years of service on behalf of a beneficiary that must be supported by private contributions in order for the contributions to qualify for public matching funds from the endowment;
The recommended schedule according to which lump sum or periodic private contributions should be made to the endowment in order to qualify for public matching funds;
A recommended program for educating families about the endowment, and about planning for their child's long-term future; and
Recommended criteria and procedure for selecting an organization or organizations to administer the developmental disabilities endowment program, and projected administrative costs.
[ 2000 c 120 § 7; ]
Based on the proposed operating plan under *RCW 43.330.225, and to the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the developmental disabilities endowment governing board shall implement and administer, or contract for the administration of, the developmental disabilities endowment program under the principles specified in *RCW 43.330.220. By December 1, 2000, and prior to implementation, the final program design shall be submitted to the appropriate committees of the legislature.
The secretary of the department of social and health services shall seek to maximize federal reimbursement and matching funds for expenditures made under the endowment program, and shall seek waivers from federal requirements as necessary for the receipt of federal funds.
The governing board may receive 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 endowment program and may expend the gifts, grants, and endowments according to their terms.
[ 2000 c 120 § 8; 1999 c 384 § 7; ]
The department shall adopt rules for the implementation of policies established by the governing board in *RCW 43.70.731 through 43.70.736. Such rules will be consistent with those statutes and chapter 34.05 RCW.
[ 2010 c 271 § 202; 2009 c 565 § 12; 2000 c 120 § 9; ]
The department, in collaboration with the office of regulatory assistance and the office of accountability and performance, must conduct multijurisdictional regulatory streamlining projects that each impact a specific industry sector or subsector within a specific geographical location. Planning for an initial pilot project must begin by September 1, 2013, and the initial pilot project must be underway by December 31, 2013. One or more projects must be implemented in each subsequent calendar year through 2019.
The department must establish and implement a competitive process and select a minimum of one applicant comprised of a public-private partnership for participation in each project. The initial pilot project must focus on the manufacturing sector. The department, in consultation with the economic development commission, must determine the sectors for subsequent projects. The criteria to be used to select projects must include:
Evidence of strong business commitment to the project;
Evidence of strong commitment by the local government jurisdictions where the project is located to allocate necessary staff to the project and to streamline laws, rules, and administrative process requirements both within their jurisdictions and collaboratively across jurisdictions;
Willingness to apply lean principles and tools to streamline the business regulatory experience;
Identification of a lead partner capable of providing project management and coordination of partners;
Support of the stakeholders necessary to implement the project;
A plan and capacity to complete the project within the time frame; and
A minimum of fifty percent match must be provided from project partners. The match may be cash, in-kind, or a combination of cash and in-kind.
The department is encouraged to collaborate with nonprofit industry organizations, the private sector, foundations, and other interested entities to successfully complete each project.
The department must pursue opportunities for nonstate funding as the match to the fifty percent or more provided by project partners. A maximum of fifty thousand dollars of state funds may be used for a project.
The department may contract with a third party for expertise and facilitation.
All state agencies with regulatory requirements that impact the project's industry sector must participate.
The state agencies, local jurisdictions, business partners, and other participants must jointly:
Develop a project plan to conduct a cross-jurisdictional review process;
Identify and review all laws, rules, and administrative processes and requirements pertaining to the selected sector;
Apply specific criteria to evaluate the extent to which the laws, rules, and administrative processes and requirements provide for consistent, clear, and efficient customer experiences while continuing to maintain public health, safety, and environmental standards;
Develop an implementation plan and schedule that identifies priority streamlining actions;
Present their recommendations to the department for comment and endorsement; and
Present their recommendations to the Washington state economic development commission for comment, endorsement, and evaluation.
The department must document and distribute the streamlined laws, rules, processes, and other potentially replicable information, derived from the projects to the association of Washington cities and Washington state association of counties for distribution to their membership.
The department must brief the economic development committees of the legislature by January 15, 2014, on the status of the initial pilot project, and must submit a report on the outcomes of the projects to the economic development committees of the legislature by January 15th of each calendar year, from 2015 through 2020. The department must include in the reports any streamlining recommendations identified in the projects that require statutory changes for implementation and any potentially replicable models, approaches, and tools that could be applied to other sectors and geographical areas.
[ 2013 c 324 § 2; ]
The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 43.330.462 through 43.330.468 unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
"Eligible individual" means an individual eligible for the Washington achieving a better life experience program pursuant to section 529A of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.
"Governing board" means the Washington achieving a better life experience program governing board in RCW 43.330.466.
"Individual Washington achieving a better life experience program account" means an account established by or for an eligible individual and owned by the eligible individual pursuant to the Washington achieving a better life experience program. Any moneys placed in these accounts or achieving a better life experience program accounts established in other states shall not be counted as assets for purposes of state or local means tested program eligibility or levels of state means tested program eligibility.
"Washington achieving a better life experience program" means a savings or investment program that establishes individual Washington achieving a better life experience program accounts pursuant to section 529A of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.
"Washington achieving a better life experience program account" means the account created in RCW 43.330.462(1), to be used only for purposes of Washington achieving a better life experience program administration and operation.
[ 2018 c 76 § 1; 2016 c 39 § 1; ]
The Washington achieving a better life experience program account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of administrative and operating expenses of the Washington achieving a better life experience program established under this chapter, except for expenses of the state investment board and the state treasurer as specified in this section.
The account must be self-sustaining, include payments received from contributors to individual Washington achieving a better life experience program accounts, held in trust, and must be credited with income earned by the account, and contributions to individual Washington achieving a better life experience program accounts may be invested in self-directed investment options. All self-directed investment options must comply with section 529A of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended. Disbursements from the account are exempt from appropriations and the allotment provisions of chapter 43.88 RCW. An appropriation is not required for expenditures.
The assets of the account may be spent without appropriation for the purpose of making payments to individual Washington achieving a better life experience program account holders. Only the Washington achieving a better life experience governing board or the board's designee may authorize expenditures from the account.
With regard to the assets of the account, the state acts in a fiduciary, not ownership, capacity. Therefore, the assets of the account are not considered state money, common cash, or revenue to the state.
[ 2018 c 76 § 2; 2016 c 39 § 2; ]
The governing board may elect to have the state investment board or investment manager invest the money in the Washington achieving a better life experience program account. If the governing board so elects, the state investment board created in RCW 43.33A.020 or the investment manager has the full power to invest, reinvest, manage, contract, sell, or exchange investment money in the Washington achieving a better life experience program account. All investment and operating costs associated with the investment of money by the state investment board must be paid pursuant to RCW 43.33A.160 and 43.84.160. With the exception of these expenses, the earnings from the investment of the money must be retained by the account.
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After consultation with the governing board, the state investment board or investment manager may elect to invest any self-directed accounts associated with the Washington achieving a better life experience program. The state investment board or investment manager has full authority to invest all self-directed investment moneys in accordance with this section and RCW 43.84.150. In carrying out this authority the state investment board or investment manager, after consultation with the governing board regarding any recommendations, shall provide a set of options for eligible individuals to choose from for self-directed investment. Any self-directed investment options provided must comply with section 529A of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.
All investment and operating costs of the state investment board or investment manager associated with making self-directed investments must be paid by eligible individuals and recovered under procedures agreed to by the governing board and the state investment board or investment manager consistent with the principles set forth in RCW 43.33A.160. All other expenses caused by self-directed investments must be paid by the eligible individual in accordance with rules established by the governing board. With the exception of these expenses, all earnings from self-directed investments shall accrue to the eligible individual's Washington achieving a better life experience program account.
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The governing board shall keep or cause to be kept full and adequate accounts and records of each eligible individual Washington achieving a better life experience program account.
The governing board shall account for and report on the investment of self-directed assets or may enter into an agreement with the recordkeepers for such accounting and reporting under this chapter.
The governing board's duties related to eligible individual Washington achieving a better life experience program accounts include conducting[,] or causing to be conducted, the activities of trade instruction, settlement activities, and direction of cash movement and related wire transfers with the custodian bank and outside investment firms.
The governing board has sole responsibility for contracting with any recordkeepers for individual Washington achieving a better life experience program accounts and shall manage the performance of recordkeepers under those contracts.
The governing board has sole responsibility for contracting with outside investment firms to provide investment management for the individual Washington achieving a better life experience program accounts and shall manage the performance of investment managers under those contracts.
The governing board shall designate and define the terms of engagement for the custodial banks under authority that the state treasurer shall delegate pursuant to RCW 43.08.015 with the concurrence of the office of financial management.
All investments made by the state investment board must be made with the exercise of that degree of judgment and care pursuant to RCW 43.33A.140 and the investment policy established by the state investment board.
As deemed appropriate by the state investment board, money in the account may be commingled for investment with other funds subject to investment by the state investment board.
The authority to establish all policies relating to the account resides with the governing board acting to implement, design, and manage the Washington achieving a better life experience savings program that allows eligible individuals to create and maintain savings accounts. The moneys in the account may be spent only for the purposes of the Washington achieving a better life experience program.
The investment manager shall routinely consult and communicate with the governing board on the investment policy, earnings of the account, and related needs of the program.
[ 2018 c 76 § 3; 2016 c 39 § 3; ]
The Washington achieving a better life experience program is established and the governing board is authorized to design and administer the Washington achieving a better life experience program in the best interests of eligible individuals. To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the director of the department shall provide staff and administrative support to the governing board. The department shall consult with the governing board regarding the staffing and administrative support needs before selecting any staff pursuant to this section. To the extent practicable, the Washington achieving a better life experience program must be colocated with the developmental disabilities endowment governing board established under this chapter.
The governing board shall consist of seven members as follows:
The state treasurer or his or her designee;
The program director for the committee on advanced tuition payment established in RCW 28B.95.020;
The director of the office of financial management or his or her designee; and
Four members with demonstrated financial, legal, or disability program experience, appointed by the governor.
The board shall select the chair of the board from among the seven board members identified in subsection (1) of this section.
Members of the board who are appointed by the governor shall serve four-year terms and may be appointed for successive four-year terms at the discretion of the governor. The governor may stagger the terms of the appointed members.
Members of the board must be compensated for their service under RCW 43.03.240 and must be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
The board shall meet periodically as specified by the chair, or a majority of the board, and may allow members to participate in meetings remotely.
The board may appoint advisory committees to support the design or administration of the Washington achieving a better life experience program. Individuals serving on advisory committees must serve staggered terms and may be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, but may not be compensated for their service.
The board may execute interagency agreements that authorize other state agencies such as the committee on advanced tuition payment established in RCW 28B.95.020 to perform administrative functions necessary to carry out the Washington achieving a better life experience program.
Members of the governing board and the state investment board shall not be considered an insurer of the funds or assets of the Washington achieving a better life experience program account or the individual program accounts. Neither of these two boards are liable for the action or inaction of the other.
Members of the governing board and the state investment board are not liable to the state, to the fund, or to any other person as a result of their activities as members, whether ministerial or discretionary, except for willful dishonesty or intentional violations of law. The department and the state investment board may purchase liability insurance for members.
[ 2016 c 39 § 4; ]
The Washington achieving a better life experience program governing board is authorized to design, administer, manage, promote, and market the Washington achieving a better life experience program. The governing board is further authorized to contract with other organizations to administer, manage, promote, or market the Washington achieving a better life experience program. This program must allow for the creation of savings or investment accounts for eligible individuals with disabilities and the funds must be invested.
The governing board may consult with the office of the state treasurer, the department of social and health services, and the state investment board in implementing the Washington achieving a better life experience program. The governing board is authorized to formulate and adopt any policies and rules necessary to implement and operate the Washington achieving a better life experience program consistent with chapter 39, Laws of 2016. The governing board is further authorized to establish a reasonable fee structure for Washington achieving a better life experience program account holders.
The governing board shall take any action required to keep the program in compliance with requirements of this chapter and as required to qualify as a "qualified ABLE program" as defined in section 529A of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, or any rules and regulations adopted by the secretary of the United States treasury pursuant to that act.
[ 2016 c 39 § 5; ]
The Washington sexual assault kit program is created within the department for the purpose of accepting private funds to fund forensic analysis of sexual assault kits in the possession of law enforcement agencies but not submitted for analysis as of July 24, 2015, and to fund other related programs aimed at improving the public's response to sexual assault. The director may accept gifts, grants, donations, or moneys from any source for deposit in the Washington sexual assault kit account created under subsection (2) of this section.
The Washington sexual assault kit account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Funds deposited in the Washington sexual assault kit account may be used for the Washington sexual assault kit program established under this section. The Washington sexual assault kit account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
Except when otherwise specified, public funds deposited in the Washington sexual assault kit account must be transferred and used exclusively for the following:
Eighty-five percent of the funds for the Washington state patrol bureau of forensic laboratory services for the purpose of conducting forensic analysis of sexual assault kits in the possession of law enforcement agencies but not submitted for forensic analysis as of July 24, 2015; and
Fifteen percent of the funds for the office of crime victims advocacy in the department for the purpose of funding grants for sexual assault nurse examiner services and training.
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Except as otherwise provided in (b) of this subsection, private funds donated to and deposited in the Washington sexual assault kit account must be transferred and used exclusively for the following:
Thirty percent for the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs for the purpose of funding the Washington sexual assault kit initiative project created in RCW 36.28A.430;
Thirty percent for the Washington state patrol bureau of forensic laboratory services for the purpose of conducting forensic analysis of sexual assault kits in the possession of law enforcement agencies but not submitted for forensic analysis as of July 24, 2015, unless the Washington state patrol bureau of forensic laboratory services deems that the funds are not necessary for this purpose, in which case the funds shall be divided equally for the purposes outlined in (a)(i), (iii), and (iv) of this subsection;
Thirty percent for the criminal justice training commission for the training in RCW 43.101.272, 43.101.274, and 43.101.276;
Ten percent for the office of crime victims advocacy in the department for the purpose of providing services to victims of sexual assault and training for professionals interacting with and providing services to victims of sexual assault.
With the consent of the department, a grantor of funds may enter into an agreement with the department for a different allocation of funds specified in (a) of this subsection, provided that the funds are distributed for the purpose of the program created in this section. Within thirty days of entering into an agreement under this subsection (4)(b), the department shall notify the sexual assault forensic examination best practices task force and the appropriate committees of the legislature.
This section expires June 30, 2022.
[ 2017 c 290 § 7; 2016 c 173 § 9; ]
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Home" means a single-family residential structure.
"Home rehabilitation" means residential repairs and improvements that address health, safety, and durability issues in existing housing in rural areas.
"Homeowner" means a person who owns and resides permanently in the home the person occupies.
"Low-income" means persons or households with income at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services.
"Rehabilitation agency" means any approved department grantee, tribal nation, or any public service company, municipality, public utility district, mutual or cooperative, or other entity that bears the responsibility for rehabilitating residences under this chapter and has been approved by the department.
"Rural areas" means areas of Washington state defined as nonentitlement areas by the United States department of housing and urban development.
[ 2017 c 285 § 1; ]
Subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program is created within the department.
The program must include the following elements:
Eligible homeowners must be low-income and live in rural areas.
Homeowners who are senior citizens, persons with disabilities, families with children five years old and younger, and veterans must receive priority for loans.
The cost of the home rehabilitation must be the lesser of eighty percent of the assessed value of the property post rehabilitation or forty thousand dollars.
The maximum amount that may be loaned under this program may not exceed the cost of the home rehabilitation as provided in (c) of this subsection, and must not result in total loans borrowed against the property equaling more than eighty percent of the assessed value.
The interest rate of the loan must be equal to the previous calendar year's annual average consumer price index compiled by the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of labor.
The department must allow participating homeowners to defer repayment of the loan principal and interest and any fees related to the administration or issuance of the loan. Any amounts deferred pursuant to this section become a lien in favor of the state. The lien is subordinate to liens for general taxes, amounts deferred under chapter 84.37 or 84.38 RCW, or special assessments as defined in RCW 84.38.020. The lien is also subordinate to the first deed of trust or the first mortgage on the real property but has priority over all other privileges, liens, monetary encumbrances, or other security interests affecting the real property, whenever incurred, filed, or recorded. The department must take such necessary action to file and perfect the state's lien. All amounts due under the loan become due and payable upon the sale of the home or upon change in ownership of the home.
All moneys from repayments must be deposited into the low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program account created in RCW 43.330.488.
The department must adopt rules for implementation of this program.
[ 2017 c 285 § 2; ]
The department must contract with rehabilitation agencies to provide home rehabilitation to participating homeowners. Preference must be given to local agencies delivering programs and services with similar eligibility criteria.
Any rehabilitation agency may charge participating homeowners an administrative fee of no more than seven percent of the home rehabilitation loan amount. The administrative fee must become a component of the total loan amount to be repaid by the participating homeowner.
Any rehabilitation agency receiving funding under this section must report to the department at least quarterly, or in alignment with federal reporting, whichever is the greater frequency, the project costs and the number of homes repaired or rehabilitated. The director must review the accuracy of these reports.
[ 2017 c 285 § 3; ]
The low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program account is created in the custody of the state treasury. All transfers and appropriations by the legislature, repayments of loans, private contributions, and all other sources must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of the low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program created in RCW 43.330.482. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
[ 2017 c 285 § 4; ]
The life sciences discovery fund is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Only the department or the department's designee may authorize expenditures from the fund. Expenditures from the fund may be made only for purposes of RCW 43.330.502. Administrative expenses of the department, including staff support, are limited to actual costs incurred by the department in designating the nonprofit organization and in monitoring and collecting grant payback funds. Revenues to the fund consist of transfers made by the legislature from strategic contribution payments deposited in the tobacco settlement account under RCW 43.79.480, moneys received pursuant to contribution agreements entered into pursuant to former RCW 43.350.030, moneys received from gifts, grants, and bequests, and interest earned on the fund. During the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium, the legislature may make appropriations from the fund to the department of commerce for providing life sciences research grants. The fund is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
[ 2019 c 83 § 4; 2018 c 299 § 924; 2016 sp.s. c 36 § 937; 2011 c 5 § 916; 2005 c 424 § 8; ]
The department must contract with a statewide nonprofit organization to either provide services or make grants, or both, to entities pursuant to a contract to foster growth of the state's life science sector and to improve the health and economic well-being of its residents. The statewide nonprofit organization must be a statewide organization established with a primary mission of growing and sustaining the life science ecosystem within the state of Washington by supporting life science entrepreneurs and connecting life science researchers, and biopharmaceutical, medical device, digital health, and health information technology companies to the resources they need to accelerate life science innovation.
The department may also contract with the organization selected under subsection (1) of this section to monitor and collect life science[s] discovery fund grant payback funds.
Grant agreements made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section must specify deliverables to be provided by the recipient under the grant. The nonprofit organization selected pursuant to subsection (1) of this section must evaluate requests for funding by reference to factors such as: (a) The quality of the proposed research or project; (b) its potential to improve health outcomes, with particular attention to the likelihood that it will also lower health care costs, provide a substitute for a more costly diagnostic or treatment modality, or offer a breakthrough treatment for a particular disease or condition; (c) the potential for leveraging additional funding; (d) the potential to provide health care benefits or a benefit to human learning and development; (e) the potential to stimulate the health care delivery, biomedical manufacturing, and life sciences related employment in the state; (f) the ability to provide critical life science infrastructure; (g) the potential for attracting new investment or catalytic partnerships in the life sciences; (h) the geographic diversity of the grantees within Washington; and (i) evidence of public and private collaboration.
Before conducting a significant grant competition, the nonprofit organization selected under subsection (1) of this section must adopt policies and procedures to facilitate the orderly process of grant application, review, and reward; and may create one or more advisory boards composed of scientists, industrialists, and others familiar with life sciences research to assist in grant evaluation.
[ 2019 c 83 § 1; ]
In carrying out its duties under RCW 43.330.502, the department may: (1) Sue and be sued on behalf of the life sciences discovery fund; (2) make and execute agreements, contracts, and other instruments, with any public or private person or entity; (3) employ, contract with, or engage independent counsel, financial advisors, auditors, other technical or professional assistants, and such other personnel as necessary; (4) establish such special funds, and controls on deposits to and disbursements from them; and (5) adopt rules for the implementation of chapter 83, Laws of 2019.
[ 2019 c 83 § 2; 2005 c 424 § 5; ]
Members of the governing board of trustees of the life sciences discovery fund authority and persons acting on behalf of the authority, while acting within the scope of their employment or agency, are not subject to personal liability resulting from carrying out the powers and duties conferred on them under former chapter 43.350 RCW. The state, the life sciences discovery fund authority, and the department are not liable for any loss, damage, harm, or other consequence resulting directly or indirectly from grants made by the authority or by any life sciences research funded by such grants.
[ 2019 c 83 § 3; 2005 c 424 § 6; ]
A keep Washington working statewide work group is established within the department. The work group must:
Develop strategies with private sector businesses, labor, and immigrant advocacy organizations to support current and future industries across the state;
Conduct research on methods to strengthen career pathways for immigrants and create and enhance partnerships with projected growth industries;
Support business and agriculture leadership, civic groups, government, and immigrant advocacy organizations in a statewide effort to provide predictability and stability to the workforce in the agriculture industry; and
Recommend approaches to improve Washington's ability to attract and retain immigrant business owners that provide new business and trade opportunities.
The work group must consist of eleven representatives, each serving a term of three years, representing members from geographically diverse immigrant advocacy groups, professional associations representing business, labor organizations with a statewide presence, agriculture and immigrant legal interests, faith-based community nonprofit organizations, legal advocacy groups focusing on immigration and criminal justice, academic institutions, and law enforcement. The terms of the members must be staggered. Members of the work group must select a chair from among the membership. The work group must meet at least four times a year and hold meetings in various locations throughout the state. Following each meeting, the work group must report on its status, including meeting minutes and a meeting summary to the department. The department must provide a report to the legislature annually.
In addition to the duties and powers described in RCW 43.330.040, it is the director's duty to provide support to the work group.
The definitions in RCW 43.17.420 apply to this section.
[ 2019 c 440 § 3; ]
The defense community compatibility account is created in the state treasury. Revenues to the account consist of appropriations by the legislature, private contributions, and all other sources deposited in the account.
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Expenditures from the account may only be used for grants to local governments or entities who have entered into an agreement with a military installation in the state under the United States department of defense readiness and environmental protection integration program for purposes of the programs established in subsection (3) of this section, including administrative expenses. Priority must be given for grant applications accompanied by express support from nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations, public development authorities, federally recognized Indian tribes in the state, or other community partners. Only the director or the director's designee , may authorize expenditures. In order for the director or the director's designee to authorize an expenditure for the purpose identified in subsection (3) of this section, both federal and applicant funds must be committed to the same purposes or project as the state expenditure.
An applicant must submit an application to the department in order to be eligible for funding under this subsection, and the department may not expend money on a project for which an applicant has not applied to the department to carry out the project.
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The department may expend moneys from the account to provide state funds for projects identified by applicants to address incompatible development connected to Washington state military installations. For purposes of this section, "incompatible development" includes land development and military operations that impact the economy, environment, or quality of life opportunities for local communities.
The department must evaluate and rank applications using objective criteria such as a community cost-benefit analysis, must consider recommendations from a citizens advisory commission comprised of representatives of community stakeholders impacted by military installations or their operations, must hold public hearings at least ninety days prior to any funding decision, and may consider the degree to which each project is compatible with the criteria established in the United States department of defense's readiness and environmental protection integration program.
Eligible projects may include:
Acquisition of real property or real property interests to eliminate an existing incompatible use;
Projects to jointly assist in the recovery or protection of endangered species dependent on military installation property for habitat;
Projects or programs to increase the availability of housing affordable to enlisted military personnel and nonmilitary residents in the local community;
Projects to retrofit existing uses to increase their compatibility with existing or future military operations;
Projects to enable local communities heavily dependent on a nearby military installation to diversify the local economy so as to reduce the economic dependence on the military base;
Projects that aid communities to replace jobs lost in the event of a reduction of the military presence; and
Projects that improve or enhance aspects of the local economy, environment, or quality of life impacted by the presence of military activities.
The department may adopt rules to implement this section.
[ 2019 c 404 § 1; ]
The department must produce a biennial report identifying a list of projects to address incompatible developments near military installations.
The list must include a description of each project, the estimated cost of the project, the amount of recommended state funding, and the amount of any federal or local funds documented to be available to be used for the project.
Projects on the list must be prioritized with consideration given to:
The recommendations of the recent United States department of defense base realignment and closure (BRAC) processes, joint land use studies, or other federally initiated land use processes; and
Whether a branch of the United States armed forces has identified the project as increasing the viability of military installations for current or future missions.
The department may consult with the commanders of United States military installations in Washington to understand impacts and identify the viability of community identified projects to reduce incompatibility.
The department must submit the report to appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate, including the joint committee on veterans' and military affairs and the house of representatives capital budget committee, by January 1, 2020, and every two years thereafter.
For the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, the department shall develop the report in subsection (2) of this section by November 1, 2022, rather than by January 1, 2022.
[ 2021 c 332 § 7039; 2019 c 404 § 2; ]
The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 43.330.532 through 43.330.538**, 43.330.412, and sections 305 and 306 of this act** unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Board" means the public works board established in RCW 43.155.030.
"Broadband" or "broadband service" means any service providing advanced telecommunications capability and internet access with transmission speeds that, at a minimum, provide twenty-five megabits per second download and three megabits per second upload.
"Broadband infrastructure" means networks of deployed telecommunications equipment and technologies necessary to provide high-speed internet access and other advanced telecommunications services to end users.
"Department" means the department of commerce.
"Last mile infrastructure" means broadband infrastructure that serves as the final connection from a broadband service provider's network to the end-use customer's on-premises telecommunications equipment.
"Local government" includes cities, towns, counties, municipal corporations, public port districts, public utility districts, quasi-municipal corporations, special purpose districts, and multiparty entities comprised of public entity members.
"Middle mile infrastructure" means broadband infrastructure that links a broadband service provider's core network infrastructure to last mile infrastructure.
"Office" means the governor's statewide broadband office established in RCW 43.330.532.
"Tribe" means any federally recognized Indian tribe whose traditional lands and territories included parts of Washington.
"Unserved areas" means areas of Washington in which households and businesses lack access to broadband service, as defined by the office, except that the state's definition for broadband service may not be actual speeds less than twenty-five megabits per second download and three megabits per second upload.
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"Advanced telecommunications capability" means, without regard to any transmission media or technology, high-speed, switched, broadband telecommunications capability that enables users to originate and receive high quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications using any technology.
"Advanced telecommunications capability" does not include access to a technology that delivers transmission speeds below the minimum download and upload speeds provided in the definition of broadband in this section.
"Aging individual" means an individual 55 years of age or older.
"Broadband adoption" means the process by which an individual obtains daily access to the internet:
At a speed, quality, price, and capacity necessary for the individual to accomplish common tasks, such that the access qualifies as an advanced telecommunications capability;
Providing individuals with the digital skills necessary to participate online;
On a device connected to the internet and other advanced telecommunications services via a secure and convenient network, with associated end-user broadband infrastructure equipment such as wifi mesh router or repeaters to enable the device to adequately use the internet network; and
With technical support and digital navigation assistance to enable continuity of service and equipment use and utilization.
"Digital equity" means the condition in which individuals and communities in Washington have the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in society and the economy.
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"Digital inclusion" means the activities that are necessary to ensure that all individuals in Washington have access to, and the use of, affordable information and communication technologies including, but not limited to:
Reliable broadband internet service;
Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; and
Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.
"Digital inclusion" also includes obtaining access to digital literacy training, the provision of quality technical support, and obtaining basic awareness of measures to ensure online privacy and cybersecurity.
"Digital literacy" means the skills associated with using technology to enable users to use information and communications technologies to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information.
"Low-income" means households as defined by the department of social and health services, provided that the definition may not exceed the higher of 80 percent of area median household income or the self-sufficiency standard as determined by the University of Washington's self-sufficiency calculator.
"Underserved population" means any of the following:
Individuals who live in low-income households;
Aging individuals;
Incarcerated individuals;
Veterans;
Individuals with disabilities;
Individuals with a language barrier, including individuals who are English learners or who have low levels of literacy;
Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group;
Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area;
Children and youth in foster care; or
Individuals experiencing housing instability.
The governor's statewide broadband office is established. The director of the office must be appointed by the governor. The office may employ staff necessary to carry out the office's duties as prescribed by chapter 365, Laws of 2019, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose.
The purpose of the office is to encourage, foster, develop, and improve affordable, quality broadband within the state in order to:
Drive job creation, promote innovation, improve economic vitality, and expand markets for Washington businesses;
Serve the ongoing and growing needs of Washington's education systems, health care systems, public safety systems, transportation systems, industries and business, governmental operations, and citizens; and
Improve broadband accessibility and adoption for unserved and underserved communities and populations.
The office has the power and duty to:
Serve as the central broadband planning body for the state of Washington;
Coordinate with local governments, tribes, public and private entities, public housing agencies, nonprofit organizations, and consumer-owned and investor-owned utilities to develop strategies and plans promoting deployment of broadband infrastructure and greater broadband access, while protecting proprietary information;
Review existing broadband initiatives, policies, and public and private investments;
Develop, recommend, and implement a statewide plan to encourage cost-effective broadband access and to make recommendations for increased usage, particularly in rural and other unserved areas;
Update the state's broadband goals and definitions for broadband service in unserved areas as technology advances, except that the state's definition for broadband service may not be actual speeds less than twenty-five megabits per second download and three megabits per second upload; and
Encourage public-private partnerships to increase deployment and adoption of broadband services and applications.
When developing plans or strategies for broadband deployment, the office must consider:
Partnerships between communities, tribes, nonprofit organizations, local governments, consumer-owned and investor-owned utilities, and public and private entities;
Funding opportunities that provide for the coordination of public, private, state, and federal funds for the purposes of making broadband infrastructure or broadband services available to rural and unserved areas of the state;
Barriers to the deployment, adoption, and utilization of broadband service, including affordability of service and project coordination logistics; and
Requiring minimum broadband service of twenty-five megabits per second download and three megabits per second upload speed, that is scalable to faster service.
The office may assist applicants for the grant and loan program created in RCW 43.155.160**, the digital equity opportunity program created in RCW 43.330.412, and the digital equity planning grant program created in section 305 of this act** with seeking federal funding or matching grants and other grant opportunities for deploying or increasing adoption of broadband services.
The office may take all appropriate steps to seek and apply for federal funds for which the office is eligible, and other grants, and accept donations, and must deposit these funds in the statewide broadband account created in RCW 43.155.165.
The office shall coordinate an outreach effort to hard-to-reach communities and low-income communities across the state to provide information about broadband programs available to consumers of these communities. The outreach effort must include, but is not limited to, providing information to applicable communities about the federal lifeline program and other low-income broadband benefit programs. The outreach effort must be reviewed by the office of equity annually. The office may contract with other public or private entities to conduct outreach to communities as provided under this subsection.
In carrying out its purpose, the office may collaborate with the utilities and transportation commission, the office of the chief information officer, the department of commerce, the community economic revitalization board, the department of transportation, the public works board, the state librarian, and all other relevant state agencies.
It is a goal of the state of Washington that:
By 2024, all Washington businesses and residences have access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum download speeds of at least twenty-five megabits per second and minimum upload speeds of at least three megabits per second;
By 2026, all Washington communities have access to at least one gigabit per second symmetrical broadband service at anchor institutions like schools, hospitals, libraries, and government buildings; and
By 2028, all Washington businesses and residences have access to at least one provider of broadband with download speeds of at least one hundred fifty megabits per second and upload speeds of at least one hundred fifty megabits per second.
[ 2019 c 365 § 5; ]
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Beginning January 1, 2021, and biennially thereafter, the office shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over broadband policy and finance on the office's activities during the previous two years.
The report must, at a minimum, contain:
An analysis of the current availability and use of broadband, including average broadband speeds, within the state;
Information gathered from schools, libraries, hospitals, and public safety facilities across the state, determining the actual speed and capacity of broadband currently in use and the need, if any, for increases in speed and capacity to meet current or anticipated needs;
An overview of incumbent broadband infrastructure within the state;
A summary of the office's activities in coordinating broadband infrastructure development with the department of transportation and the public works board, including a summary of funds awarded under RCW 43.155.160;
Suggested policies, incentives, and legislation designed to accelerate the achievement of the goals under RCW 43.330.536; and
Any proposed legislative and policy initiatives.
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By December 31, 2022, the office must submit a report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature regarding the provision of retail telecommunications services to unserved areas by public utility districts and port districts as provided in RCW 54.16.330(10) and 53.08.370(10).
The report must, at a minimum, contain:
The number of public utility districts and port districts providing retail telecommunications services in an unserved area authorized in RCW 54.16.330(10) and 53.08.370(10); and
Any recommendations to improve the provision of retail telecommunications services in unserved areas.
[ 2021 c 293 § 4; 2021 c 258 § 4; 2019 c 365 § 6; ]
The cannabis social equity technical assistance grant program is established and is to be administered by the department.
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The cannabis social equity technical assistance grant program must award grants to:
Cannabis license applicants who are social equity applicants submitting social equity plans under RCW 69.50.335; and
Cannabis licensees holding a license issued after June 30, 2020, and before July 25, 2021, who meet the social equity applicant criteria under RCW 69.50.335.
Grant recipients under this subsection (2) must demonstrate completion of their project within 12 months of receiving a grant, unless a grant recipient requests, and the department approves, additional time to complete the project.
The department must award grants primarily based on the strength of the social equity plans submitted by cannabis license applicants and cannabis licensees holding a license issued after June 30, 2020, and before July 25, 2021, but may also consider additional criteria if deemed necessary or appropriate by the department. Technical assistance activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
Assistance navigating the cannabis licensure process;
Cannabis-business specific education and business plan development;
Regulatory compliance training;
Financial management training and assistance in seeking financing;
Strengthening a social equity plan; and
Connecting social equity applicants with established industry members and tribal cannabis enterprises and programs for mentoring and other forms of support.
The department may contract to establish a roster of mentors who are available to support and advise social equity applicants and current licensees who meet the social equity applicant criteria under RCW 69.50.335. Contractors under this section must:
Have knowledge and experience demonstrating their ability to effectively advise eligible applicants and licensees in navigating the state's licensing and regulatory framework or on producing and processing cannabis;
Be a business that is at least 51% [percent] minority or woman-owned; and
Meet department reporting and invoicing requirements.
Funding for the cannabis social equity technical assistance grant program must be provided through the dedicated marijuana account under RCW 69.50.540. Additionally, the department may solicit, receive, and expend private contributions to support the grant program.
The department may adopt rules to implement this section.
For the purposes of this section, "cannabis" has the meaning provided for "marijuana" under RCW 69.50.101.
[ 2021 c 169 § 1; 2020 c 236 § 3; ]
The department must apply and comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of chapter 70A.02 RCW.
[ 2021 c 314 § 8; ]
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, a project is created in the department to foster community engagement through neighborhood organizing, law enforcement-community partnerships, youth mobilization, and business engagement. The department shall administer the project. The project must include 12 to 15 grant awards in those counties that have demonstrated their commitment to programs that promote community engagement in public safety including the following counties: Spokane, Pierce, King, Okanogan, Yakima, Cowlitz, Clark, Chelan-Douglas, Walla Walla, Benton-Franklin, Grant, and Snohomish.
The department shall adopt policies and procedures necessary to administer the project including: (a) An application process; (b) disbursement of the grant award to selected applicants; (c) tracking compliance and proper use of funds; and (d) measuring outcomes.
Eligible applicants must:
Be a public agency or nongovernmental organization;
Have demonstrated experience with community engagement initiatives that impact public safety;
Have community engagement;
Have established or be willing to establish a coordinated effort with committed partners, which must include law enforcement and organizations committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion of community members, including organizations whose leadership specifically reflects the communities most impacted by racism; and
Have established priorities, policies, and measurable goals in compliance with the requirements of the project as provided in subsection (5) of this section.
A law enforcement agency applying for a grant award shall not be considered an eligible applicant unless there are no other eligible applicants from the community or county the law enforcement agency serves.
The grant recipient shall:
Lead and facilitate neighborhood organizing initiatives, including:
Empowering community members with tools, skills, confidence, and connections to identify, eradicate, and prevent illegal activity;
Making neighborhood improvements to deter future criminal activity; and
Educating community members regarding how to connect with city, county, and law enforcement resources;
Build substantive law enforcement-community partnerships, including:
Building trust between community members and law enforcement by facilitating purposeful antiracist practices and the development of policies that lead to equal treatment under the law;
Establishing clear expectations for law enforcement to be competent to practice fair and equitable treatment including facilitating dialogue between law enforcement and community members to increase understanding of the impact of historical racist practices and current conflicts;
Community members regularly informing law enforcement, through presentations, workshops, or forums, on community perceptions of law enforcement and public safety issues;
Educating community members on the role and function of law enforcement in the community;
Clarifying expectations of law enforcement and of the role of the community in crime prevention;
Educating community members on the best practices for reporting emergency and nonemergency activities;
Recognizing community members for effective engagement and community leadership; and
Recognizing law enforcement officials for efforts to engage underrepresented communities, improve community engagement and empowerment, and reform law enforcement practices;
Mobilize youth to partner with neighborhood groups and law enforcement to prevent violence by:
Helping them develop knowledge and skills to serve as leaders in their communities;
Focusing on prevention of violence and substance abuse; and
Empowering youth to bring their voice to community issues that impact healthy police-community relations;
Engage businesses to help prevent crimes, such as vandalism and burglaries, through safety training and other prevention initiatives;
Provide training and technical assistance on how to implement community engagement, improving law enforcement and community partnership, youth engagement, and business engagement;
Identify and maintain consistent, experienced, and committed leadership for managing the grant, including an administrator who acts as an available point of contact with the department; and
Collect and report data and information required by the department.
The department shall, in consultation with the Washington state institute for public policy, develop reporting guidelines for the grant recipient in order to measure whether the safe streets pilot project had an impact on crime rates and community engagement with, and perceptions of, law enforcement. The department shall submit a preliminary report to the legislature with details on the selected grant recipients and the reporting guidelines by January 1, 2022. The department shall submit a final report on the safe streets pilot project, including an analysis of the reported data required under this subsection, by December 1, 2023.
This section expires January 1, 2024.
[ 2021 c 327 § 2; ]
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department, in collaboration with the department of children, youth, and families, shall provide or contract to provide remote or in-person technical assistance to employers interested in supporting their employees' access to high quality child care.
Technical assistance may include guidance related to:
Operating a licensed child care center at or near the workplace for the benefit of employees;
Financing and construction of a licensed child care center at or near the workplace for the benefit of employees;
Providing financial assistance to employees for licensed or certified child care providers and license-exempt child care program expenses;
Encouraging access and support for low-wage employees;
Sponsoring dependent care flexible spending accounts for employees; and
Developing a "bring your infant to work" program and other family-friendly work policies for employees.
[ 2021 c 199 § 308; ]
The legislature finds that every night thousands of homeless youth in Washington go to sleep without the safety, stability, and support of a family or a home. This population is exposed to an increased level of violence, human trafficking, and exploitation resulting in a higher incidence of substance abuse, illness, and death. The prevention and reduction of youth and young adult homelessness and protection of homeless youth is of key concern to the state. Nothing in chapter 69, Laws of 2015 is meant to diminish the work accomplished by the implementation of Becca legislation but rather, the intent of the legislature is to further enhance the state's efforts in working with unaccompanied homeless youth and runaways to encourage family reconciliation or permanent housing and support through dependency when family reconciliation is not a viable alternative.
Successfully addressing youth and young adult homelessness ensures that homeless youth and young adults in our state have the support they need to thrive and avoid involvement in the justice system, human trafficking, long-term, avoidable use of public benefits, and extended adult homelessness.
Providing appropriate, relevant, and readily accessible services is critical for addressing one-time, episodic, or longer-term homelessness among youth and young adults, and keeping homeless youth and young adults safe, housed, and connected to family.
The coordination of statewide programs to combat youth and young adult homelessness should include programs addressing both youth and young adults. In some instances, best practices mandate that youth programs and young adult programs be segregated in their implementation; however, in other instances, innovative approaches can ensure the health and safety of both populations while serving them together, allowing for alignment with federal programs and funding opportunities, application of adolescent neurodevelopment research, and maximization of capacity to serve more dispersed populations in rural areas. The legislature further finds that the differing needs of these populations should be considered when assessing which programs are relevant and appropriate.
To successfully reduce and prevent youth and young adult homelessness, it is the goal of the legislature to have the following key components available and accessible:
Stable housing: It is the goal of the legislature to provide a safe and healthy place for homeless youth to sleep each night until permanency can be reached. Every homeless young adult in our state deserves access to housing that gives them a safe, healthy, and supported launching pad to adulthood. Every family in crisis should have appropriate support as they work to keep their children housed and safe. It is the goal of the legislature that every homeless youth discharged from a public system of care in our state will not be discharged into homelessness.
Family reconciliation: All homeless youth should have access to services that support reunification with immediate family. When reunification is not possible for homeless youth, youth should be placed in the custody of the department of children, youth, and families.
Permanent connections: Every homeless young adult should have opportunities to establish positive, healthy relationships with adults, including family members, employers, landlords, teachers, and community members, with whom they can maintain connections and from whom they can receive ongoing, long-term support to help them develop the skills and experiences necessary to achieve a successful transition to adulthood.
Education and employment: Every homeless young adult in our state deserves the opportunity and support they need to complete their high school education and pursue additional education and training. It is the goal of the legislature that every homeless young adult in our state will have the opportunity to engage in employment training and be able to access employment. With both education and employment support and opportunities, young adults will have the skills they need to become self-sufficient, self-reliant, and independent.
Social and emotional well-being: Every homeless youth and young adult in our state should have access to both behavioral health care and physical health care. Every state-funded program for homeless youth and young adults must endeavor to identify, encourage, and nurture each youth's strengths and abilities and demonstrate a commitment to youth-centered programming.
[ 2019 c 124 § 4; 2015 c 69 § 4; ]
The definitions in this section apply throughout this subchapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Child," "juvenile," "youth," and "minor" means any unemancipated individual who is under the chronological age of eighteen years.
"Homeless" means without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, P.L. 100–77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, and runaway and homeless youth act, P.L. 93–415, Title III, September 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1129.
"Runaway" means an unmarried and unemancipated minor who is absent from the home of a parent or guardian or other lawful placement without the consent of the parent, guardian, or lawful custodian.
"Street youth" means a person under the age of eighteen who lives outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for occupancy by the minor and who is not residing with his or her parent or at his or her legally authorized residence.
"Unaccompanied" means a youth or young adult experiencing homelessness while not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
"Young adult" means a person between eighteen and twenty-four years of age.
[ 2015 c 69 § 3; ]
There is created the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs within the department.
Activities of the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs must be carried out by a director of the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs, supervised by the director of the department or his or her designee.
The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs is responsible for leading efforts under this subchapter to coordinate a spectrum of ongoing and future funding, policy, and practice efforts related to homeless youth and improving the safety, health, and welfare of homeless youth in this state.
The measurable goals of the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs are to: (a) Measurably decrease the number of homeless youth and young adults by identifying programs that address the initial causes of homelessness, and (b) measurably increase permanency rates among homeless youth by decreasing the length and occurrences of youth homelessness caused by a youth's separation from family or a legal guardian.
The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall (a) gather data and outcome measures, (b) initiate data-sharing agreements, (c) develop specific recommendations and timelines to address funding, policy, and practice gaps within the state system for addressing the five key components in RCW 43.330.700, (d) make reports, (e) increase system integration and coordinate efforts to prevent state systems from discharging youth and young adults into homelessness, (f) develop measures to include by county and statewide the number of homeless youth, dependency status, family reunification status, housing status, program participation, and runaway status, and (g) develop a comprehensive plan to encourage identification of youth experiencing homelessness, promote family stability, and eliminate youth and young adult homelessness.
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The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall regularly consult with an advisory committee, comprised of advocates, at least two legislators, at least two parent advocates, at least two youth representatives, at least one representative from law enforcement, service providers, and other stakeholders knowledgeable in the provision of services to homeless youth and young adults, including the prevention of youth and young adult homelessness, the dependency system, and family reunification, for a total of twelve members. The advisory committee shall provide guidance and recommendations to the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs regarding funding, policy, and practice gaps within and among state programs.
The advisory committee must be staffed by the department.
The members of the advisory committee must be appointed by the governor, except for the legislators who must be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate.
The advisory committee must have its initial meeting no later than March 1, 2016.
The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs must be operational no later than January 1, 2016. Transfer of powers, duties, and functions of the department of children, youth, and families to the department of commerce pertaining to youth homeless services and programs identified in RCW 43.330.710(2) may occur before this date.
[ 2019 c 124 § 5; 2015 c 69 § 5; ]
The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall identify data and outcomes measures from which to evaluate future public investment in homeless youth services.
By December 1, 2016, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs must submit a report to the governor and the legislature to inform recommendations for funding, policy, and best practices in the five priority service areas identified in RCW 43.330.700 and present recommendations to address funding, policy, and practice gaps in the state system.
Recommendations must include, but are not limited to: Strategies to enhance coordination between providers of youth homelessness programs and the child welfare system, and strategies for communities to identify homeless youth and ensure their protection and referral to appropriate services, including family reconciliation and transition to dependent status for minors.
[ 2015 c 69 § 6; ]
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The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall report to the director or the director's designee.
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The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs may distribute grants to providers who serve homeless youth and young adults throughout the state.
The grants must fund services in the five key components in RCW 43.330.700.
The grants must be expended on a statewide basis and may be used to support direct services, as well as technical assistance, evaluation, and capacity building.
The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall provide management and oversight guidance and direction to the following programs:
HOPE centers as described in RCW 43.185C.315;
Crisis residential centers as described in RCW 43.185C.295;
Street outreach services as defined in RCW 43.185C.010;
Independent youth housing programs as described in RCW 43.63A.305.
[ 2019 c 124 § 6; 2015 c 69 § 7; ]
The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall establish a statewide training program on homeless youth for criminal justice personnel. The training must include identifying homeless youth, existing laws governing the intersection of law enforcement and homeless youth, and best practices for approaching and engaging homeless youth in appropriate services.
The training must be provided where possible by an entity that has experience in developing coalitions, training, programs, and policy on homeless youth in Washington.
[ 2015 c 69 § 8; ]
The joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct a review of state-funded programs that serve unaccompanied homeless youth under the age of eighteen, including dependent youth, to determine what performance measures exist, what statutory reporting requirements exist, and whether there is reliable data on ages of youth served, length of stay, and effectiveness of program exit and reentry. Where statutory reporting requirements do exist, the joint legislative audit and review committee shall review the programs' compliance with relevant statutory reporting requirements. The committee shall report on what services are provided to unaccompanied homeless youth including, but not limited to: Outreach and other nonshelter services, shelter services, and family reconciliation. The committee is also to report on the number of unaccompanied homeless youth statewide and by county and city and how this number is determined. The programs reviewed may include, but are not limited to, HOPE centers as described in RCW 43.185C.315 and crisis residential centers as described in RCW 43.185C.295.
[ 2015 c 69 § 9; ]
In accordance with RCW 43.330.700(5)(a), it is the goal of the legislature, that beginning January 1, 2021, any unaccompanied youth discharged from a publicly funded system of care in our state will be discharged into safe and stable housing, and that this policy applies to any judicial proceeding through which the youth has been committed to the publicly funded system of care or in any collateral proceeding that involves the custody of the youth in that system.
The department of children, youth, and families and the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs must jointly develop a plan to ensure that, by December 31, 2020, no unaccompanied youth is discharged from a publicly funded system of care into homelessness. The plan must specify actions that state agencies will need to take, any necessary statutory and funding legislative action, and the assignment of those specific state agency actions to effectuate all parts of the plan. By December 31, 2019, the department of children, youth, and families must issue the plan to the appropriate committees of the legislature and the governor.
For the purposes of this section, "publicly funded system of care" means the child welfare system, the behavioral health system, the juvenile justice system, and programs administered by the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs.
[ 2018 c 157 § 1; ]
The legislature finds that there is a retirement savings access gap in Washington; that Americans reach the median salary four years later than they did in 1980 and therefore have four fewer years of savings opportunities; and that one in six Americans retire in poverty. Employees who are unable to effectively build their retirement savings risk living on low incomes in their elderly years and are more likely to become dependent on state services. Further, small businesses, which employ more than forty percent of private sector employees in Washington, often choose not to offer retirement plans to employees due to concerns about costs, administrative burdens, and potential liability that they believe such plans would place on their business. In response, the legislature recognizes the work of the federal government in addressing these issues by establishing the myRA program: A safe, affordable, and accessible retirement vehicle designed to remove barriers to retirement savings. In addition, the legislature recognizes that many private financial services firms in Washington currently offer high quality retirement options for small businesses and their employees.
The Washington small business retirement marketplace will remove barriers to entry into the retirement market for small businesses by educating small employers on plan availability and promoting, without mandated participation, qualified, low-cost, low-burden retirement savings vehicles and myRA. The marketplace furthers greater retirement plan access for the residents of Washington while ensuring that individuals participating in these retirement plans will have all the protections offered by the employee retirement income security act. Further, the Washington small business retirement marketplace will not pose any significant financial burden upon taxpayers. The Washington small business retirement marketplace will be the best way for Washington to close the retirement savings access gap, protect the fiscal stability of the state and its citizens well into the future, and further cement its place as a national leader in retirement and investor promotion and protection. The marketplace will educate and promote retirement saving among employees and in particular market to small employers with fifty or fewer employees.
[ 2015 c 296 § 1; ]
The definitions in this section apply throughout this subchapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Approved plans" means retirement plans offered by private sector financial services firms that meet the requirements of this chapter to participate in the marketplace.
"Balanced fund" means a mutual fund that has an investment mandate to balance its portfolio holdings. The fund generally includes a mix of stocks and bonds in varying proportions according to the fund's investment outlook.
"Eligible employer" means a self-employed individual, sole proprietor, or an employer with fewer than one hundred qualified employees at the time of enrollment.
"Enrollee" means any employee who is voluntarily enrolled in an approved plan offered by an eligible employer through the Washington small business retirement marketplace.
"myRA" means the myRA retirement program administered by the United States department of the treasury that is available to all employers and employees with no fees or no minimum contribution requirements. A myRA is a Roth IRA option and investments in these accounts are backed by the United States department of the treasury.
"Participating employer" means any eligible employer with employees enrolled in an approved plan offered through the Washington small business retirement marketplace who chooses to participate in the marketplace and offers approved plans to employees for voluntary enrollment.
"Private sector financial services firms" or "financial services firms" mean persons or entities licensed or holding a certificate of authority and in good standing by either the department of financial institutions or the office of the insurance commissioner and meeting all federal laws and regulations to offer retirement plans.
"Qualified employee" means those workers who are defined by the federal internal revenue service to be eligible to participate in a specific qualified plan.
"Target date or other similar fund" means a hybrid mutual fund that automatically resets the asset mix of stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents in its portfolio according to a selected time frame that is appropriate for a particular investor. A target date is structured to address a projected retirement date.
"Washington small business retirement marketplace" or "marketplace" means the retirement savings program created to connect eligible employers and their employees with approved plans to increase retirement savings.
[ 2015 c 296 § 2; ]
The Washington small business retirement marketplace is created.
Prior to connecting any eligible employer with an approved plan in the marketplace, the director shall design a plan for the operation of the marketplace.
The director shall consult with the Washington state department of retirement systems, the Washington state investment board, and the department of financial institutions in designing and managing the marketplace.
The director shall approve for participation in the marketplace all private sector financial services firms that meet the requirements of *RCW 43.330.732(7).
A range of investment options must be provided to meet the needs of investors with various levels of risk tolerance and various ages. The director must approve a diverse array of private retirement plan options that are available to employers on a voluntary basis, including but not limited to life insurance plans that are designed for retirement purposes, and plans for eligible employer participation such as: (a) A SIMPLE IRA-type plan that provides for employer contributions to participating enrollee accounts; and (b) a payroll deduction individual retirement account type plan or workplace-based individual retirement accounts open to all workers in which the employer does not contribute to the employees' account.
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Prior to approving a plan to be offered on the marketplace, the department must receive verification from the department of financial institutions or the office of the insurance commissioner:
That the private sector financial services firm offering the plan meets the requirements of *RCW 43.330.732(7); and
That the plan meets the requirements of this section excluding subsection (9) of this section which is subject to federal laws and regulations.
If the plan includes either life insurance or annuity products, or both, the office of the insurance commissioner may request that the department of financial institutions conduct the plan review as provided in (a)(ii) of this subsection prior to submitting its verification to the department.
The director may remove approved plans that no longer meet the requirements of this chapter.
The financial services firms participating in the marketplace must offer a minimum of two product options: (a) A target date or other similar fund, with asset allocations and maturities designed to coincide with the expected date of retirement and (b) a balanced fund. The marketplace must offer myRA.
In order for the marketplace to operate, there must be at least two approved plans on the marketplace; however, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the number of private sector financial services firms with approved plans from participating in the marketplace.
Approved plans must meet federal law or regulation for internal revenue service approved retirement plans.
The approved plans must include the option for enrollees to roll pretax contributions into a different individual retirement account or another eligible retirement plan after ceasing participation in a plan approved by the Washington small business retirement marketplace.
Financial services firms selected by the department to offer approved plans on the marketplace may not charge the participating employer an administrative fee and may not charge enrollees more than one hundred basis points in total annual fees and must provide information about their product's historical investment performance. Financial services firms may charge enrollees a de minimis fee for new and/or low balance accounts in amounts negotiated and agreed upon by the department and financial services firms. The director shall limit plans to those with total fees the director considers reasonable based on all the facts and circumstances.
Participation in the Washington small business retirement marketplace is voluntary for both eligible employers and qualified employees.
Enrollment in any approved plan offered in the marketplace is not an entitlement.
[ 2017 c 69 § 1; 2015 c 296 § 3; ]
The director shall contract with a private sector entity to:
Establish a protocol for reviewing and approving the qualifications of all private sector financial services firms that meet the qualifications to participate in the marketplace;
Design and operate an internet website that includes information about how eligible employers can voluntarily participate in the marketplace;
Develop marketing materials about the marketplace that can be distributed electronically, posted on agency websites that interact with eligible employers, or inserted into mail from the department of revenue, department of labor and industries, employment security department, the office of minority and women's business enterprises, department of licensing, and secretary of state's division of corporations;
Identify and promote existing federal and state tax credits and benefits for employers and employees that are related to encouraging retirement savings or participating in retirement plans; and
Promote the benefits of retirement savings and other information that promotes financial literacy.
The director shall address how rollovers are handled for eligible Washington employers that have workers in other states, and whether out-of-state employees with existing IRA's can roll them into the plans offered through the Washington small business retirement marketplace.
The director shall direct the entity retained pursuant to subsection (1) of this section to assure that licensed professionals who assist their eligible business clients or employees to enroll in a plan offered through the Washington small business retirement marketplace may receive routine, market-based commissions or other compensation for their services.
The director shall ensure by rule that there is objective criteria in the protocol provided in subsection (1)(a) of this section and that the protocol does not provide unfair advantage to the private sector entity which establishes the protocol.
The director shall encourage the participation of private sector financial services firms in the marketplace.
[ 2015 c 296 § 4; ]
In addition to any appropriated funds, the director may use private funding sources, including private foundation grants, to pay for marketplace expenses. On behalf of the marketplace, the department shall seek federal and private grants and is authorized to accept any funds awarded to the department for use in the marketplace.
[ 2015 c 296 § 5; ]
The department shall not expose the state of Washington as an employer or through administration of the marketplace to any potential liability under the federal employee retirement income [security] act of 1974. As such, the department is specifically prohibited from offering and operating a state-based retirement plan for businesses or individuals who are not employed by the state of Washington.
[ 2015 c 296 § 6; ]
Using funds specifically appropriated for this purpose, and funds provided by private foundations or other private sector entities, the director may provide incentive payments to participating employers that enroll in the marketplace.
[ 2015 c 296 § 7; ]
The director shall report biennially to the legislature on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Washington small business retirement marketplace, including the levels of enrollment and the retirement savings levels of participating enrollees that are obtained in aggregate on a voluntary basis from private sector financial services firms that participate in the marketplace.
[ 2015 c 296 § 8; ]
The director shall adopt rules necessary to allow the marketplace to operate as authorized by this subchapter. As part of the rule development process, the director shall consult with organizations representing eligible employers, qualified employees, private and nonprofit sector retirement plan administrators and providers, organizations representing private sector financial services firms, and any other individuals or entities that the director determines relevant to the development of an effective and efficient method for operating the marketplace. The director or the director's designee may take the actions necessary to ensure chapter 69, Laws of 2017 is implemented on July 23, 2017.
[ 2017 c 69 § 2; 2015 c 296 § 9; ]
It is the intent of the legislature that Washington retain and build on its leadership in the manufacturing and research and development sectors. The legislature finds that a thriving research and production sector are complimentary and should be promoted in every region of the state. The legislature finds this is critical to provide a strong, resilient tax base for good schools, safe streets, and community optimism. Therefore, the legislature intends to identify and invest in strategies to ensure every geographic region of the state can benefit from a strong manufacturing and research and development base, with the goal of doubling the state's manufacturing employment base, the number of small businesses, and the number of women and minority-owned manufacturing businesses in the next 10 years.
[ 2021 c 64 § 2; ]
The department is responsible for identifying and developing strategies to help achieve the goals established in RCW 43.330.760. In support of pursuing the goal, the department must prepare and update each fiscal biennium a report on the state of the manufacturing and research and development industry and workforce. The report must identify progress or challenges the state has encountered in achieving the goals established in RCW 43.330.760 and identify recommendations to the legislature.
The report may include, but not be limited to:
Recommendations for specific actions to develop a manufacturing workforce pipeline and specific manufacturing subsectors that present workforce opportunities or challenges;
Identification of dislocated workers;
Career-connected learning opportunities;
A survey of financial aid that can be leveraged to fund training for the manufacturing workforce pipeline, such as Washington college grant opportunities, passport to careers, and prison to postsecondary funding;
Recommendations on improving the state's competitiveness for manufacturing and research and development job retention and creation;
Identification of high-demand advanced manufacturing industries and subsectors globally;
Identification of site selection criteria of advanced manufacturing and research and development projects; and
Recommendations of best practices to streamline environmental permit approval and appeal processes for the purpose of getting manufacturing businesses who want to site or expand in Washington more certainty, faster.
The department must convene a manufacturing council to advise and consult on the development of the report and recommendations.
The director or the director's designee must appoint to the council such persons from the private, nonprofit, and public sectors as may best inform the state's ability to innovate, diversify supply chains, and expand living wage jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Representatives must include small to mid-sized private sector manufacturing businesses, labor and apprenticeship programs, statewide business associations, higher education institutions, and workforce partners. The department must work to ensure:
Equal representation of business and labor on the council;
That appointees represent every region of the state such that economic diversification across all regions is supported; and
That the council includes a strong array of voices from women and minority executives and labor in manufacturing.
All state agencies with expertise in workforce development and economic development are encouraged to provide such information and resources as may be requested to inform and facilitate identification and analysis of public policy challenges and potential recommendations for the report in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
In its first biennial report, the department shall coordinate with the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the state board for community and technical colleges to assess any inadequacy or gaps in delivering hands-on, skills-based learning remotely to all Washingtonians seeking to enter the manufacturing workforce or to be retrained for a transition within the manufacturing workforce.
[ 2021 c 64 § 3; ]
The department must support the development of regionally tailored strategies to facilitate the continued existence and development of [a] manufacturing workforce across the state.
To support regional manufacturing cluster development and job creation, the department must grant any funding provided in RCW 43.330.767 for initiatives that accelerate the development of regional clusters intended to grow living wage jobs in manufacturing and research and development.
The department is encouraged to consider the creation of regional offices or establishing additional duty stations that facilitate sector leads to be located in the regions most dependent on their sector.
[ 2021 c 64 § 4; ]
The manufacturing cluster acceleration subaccount is established in the economic development strategic reserve account. All receipts from appropriations made to the manufacturing cluster acceleration subaccount shall be deposited into the subaccount.
The department may make expenditures from the subaccount to support regional cluster acceleration strategies, including: Supporting projects to assist manufacturers to diversify their customer base and supply chain, supporting pilot or demonstration manufacturing projects coordination with organized cluster initiatives, and supporting projects that are intended to increase manufacturing and research and development jobs regionally.
The department is encouraged to seek match funds for any funds appropriated to this account [subaccount] and may utilize funds to match nonstate funds being expended on a specific project that aligns with the purpose of this section.
[ 2021 c 64 § 5; ]
The department must appoint a workforce innovation sector lead, to coordinate workforce activities and needs identified by industry sector leads such as the manufacturing, clean technology, and aerospace sector leads, and connect this work with the lead workforce agencies to inform strategic allocation of funding.
Within existing resources, the department must report to the appropriate committees of the legislature beginning December 1, 2022, and continuing every fourth year thereafter, the progress made in developing, recruiting, and retaining research and development employers and workforce; and a description of how the state's policy toolkit for developing strength in research and development as a sector compares to competitor states.
[ 2021 c 64 § 6; ]
The duties in RCW 43.330.760 through 43.330.770 are subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for the specific purpose.
[ 2021 c 64 § 7; ]
All references to the director or department of community, trade, and economic development in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the director of commerce or the department of commerce.
[ 2009 c 565 § 17; 1993 c 280 § 79; ]
Captions used in this chapter do not constitute part of the law.
[ 1993 c 280 § 83; ]
Sections 1 through 7, 9 through 79, 82, and 83 of this act shall take effect March 1, 1994.
[ 1994 c 5 § 2; 1993 c 280 § 86; ]
This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect March 1, 1994.
[ 1994 c 5 § 3; ]
The director shall appoint an assistant director for energy policy, and energy policy staff shall have no additional responsibilities beyond activities concerning energy policy.
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All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the state energy office pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the *department of community, trade, and economic development. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, software, database, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the state energy office in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be made available to the *department of community, trade, and economic development.
Any appropriations made to the state energy office for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on July 1, 1996, be transferred and credited to the *department of community, trade, and economic development.
Whenever any question arises as to the transfer of any funds, books, documents, records, papers, files, software, database, 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.
All employees of the state energy office engaged in performing the powers, functions, and duties pertaining to the energy facility site evaluation council are transferred to the jurisdiction of the *department of community, trade, and economic development. All employees engaged in energy facility site evaluation council duties classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the *department of community, trade, and economic 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.
All rules and all pending business before the state energy office pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the *department of community, trade, and economic development. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the *department of community, trade, and economic development.
The transfer of the powers, duties, and functions of the state energy office does not affect the validity of any act performed before July 1, 1996.
If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by this section, the director of the office 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.
The *department of community, trade, and economic development shall direct the closure of the financial records of the state energy office.
Responsibility for implementing energy education, applied research, and technology transfer programs rests with Washington State University. The *department of community, trade, and economic development shall provide Washington State University available existing and future oil overcharge restitution and federal energy block funding for a minimum period of five years to carry out energy programs under an interagency agreement with the *department of community, trade, and economic development. The interagency agreement shall also outline the working relationship between the *department of community, trade, and economic development and Washington State University as it pertains to the relationship between energy policy development and public outreach. Nothing in chapter 186, Laws of 1996 prohibits Washington State University from seeking grant, contract, or fee-for-service funding for energy or related programs directly from other entities.
[ 1996 c 186 § 101; ]
All powers, duties, and functions of the department of commerce pertaining to county public health assistance are transferred to the department of health. All references to the director or the department of commerce in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the secretary or the department of health when referring to the functions transferred in this section.
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All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the department of commerce pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the department of health. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the department of commerce in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be made available to the department of health. All funds, credits, or other assets held in connection with the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the department of health.
Any appropriations made to the department of commerce for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on July 1, 2010, be transferred and credited to the department of health.
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.
All employees of the department of commerce engaged in performing the powers, functions, and duties transferred are transferred to the jurisdiction of the department of health. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the department of health 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.
All rules and all pending business before the department of commerce pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the department of health. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the department of health.
The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the department of commerce shall not affect the validity of any act performed before July 1, 2010.
If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by this section, 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.
All classified employees of the department of commerce assigned to the department of health under this section whose positions are within an existing bargaining unit description at the department of health shall become a part of the existing bargaining unit at the department of health and shall be considered an appropriate inclusion or modification of the existing bargaining unit under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW.
[ 2010 c 271 § 102; ]
All powers, duties, and functions of the department of commerce pertaining to administrative and support services for the state building code council are transferred to the department of enterprise services. All references to the director or the department of commerce in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the director or the department of enterprise services when referring to the functions transferred in this section. Policy and planning assistance functions performed by the department of commerce remain with the department of commerce.
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All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the department of commerce pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the department of enterprise services. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the department of commerce in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be made available to the department of enterprise services. All funds, credits, or other assets held in connection with the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the department of enterprise services.
Any appropriations made to the department of commerce for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on July 1, 2010, be transferred and credited to the department of enterprise services.
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.
All employees of the department of commerce engaged in performing the powers, functions, and duties transferred are transferred to the jurisdiction of the department of enterprise services. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the department of enterprise services 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.
All rules and all pending business before the department of commerce pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the department of enterprise services. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the department of enterprise services.
The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the department of commerce shall not affect the validity of any act performed before July 1, 2010.
If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by this section, 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.
All classified employees of the department of commerce assigned to the department of enterprise services under this section whose positions are within an existing bargaining unit description at the department of enterprise services shall become a part of the existing bargaining unit at the department of enterprise services and shall be considered an appropriate inclusion or modification of the existing bargaining unit under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW.
[ 2015 c 225 § 93; 2010 c 271 § 308; ]
All powers, duties, and functions of the department of commerce pertaining to the drug prosecution assistance program are transferred to the criminal justice training commission. All references to the director or the department of commerce in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the director or the criminal justice training commission when referring to the functions transferred in this section.
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All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the department of commerce pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the criminal justice training commission. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the department of commerce in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be made available to the criminal justice training commission. All funds, credits, or other assets held in connection with the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the criminal justice training commission.
Any appropriations made to the department of commerce for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on July 1, 2010, be transferred and credited to the criminal justice training commission.
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.
All employees of the department of commerce engaged in performing the powers, functions, and duties transferred are transferred to the jurisdiction of the criminal justice training commission. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the criminal justice training commission 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.
All rules and all pending business before the department of commerce pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the criminal justice training commission. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the criminal justice training commission.
The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the department of commerce shall not affect the validity of any act performed before July 1, 2010.
If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by this section, 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.
All classified employees of the department of commerce assigned to the criminal justice training commission under this section whose positions are within an existing bargaining unit description at the criminal justice training commission shall become a part of the existing bargaining unit at the criminal justice training commission and shall be considered an appropriate inclusion or modification of the existing bargaining unit under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW.
[ 2010 c 271 § 502; ]
All administrative powers, duties, and functions of the department of commerce pertaining to the energy facility site evaluation council are transferred to the Washington utilities and transportation commission. All references to the director or the department of commerce in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the Washington utilities and transportation commission when referring to the functions transferred in this section.
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All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the department of commerce pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the Washington utilities and transportation commission. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the department of commerce in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be made available to the Washington utilities and transportation commission. All funds, credits, or other assets held in connection with the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the Washington utilities and transportation commission.
Any appropriations made to the department of commerce for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on July 1, 2010, be transferred and credited to the Washington utilities and transportation commission.
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.
All employees of the department of commerce engaged in performing the powers, functions, and duties transferred are transferred to the jurisdiction of the Washington utilities and transportation commission. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the Washington utilities and transportation commission 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.
All rules and all pending business before the department of commerce pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the Washington utilities and transportation commission. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the Washington utilities and transportation commission.
The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the department of commerce shall not affect the validity of any act performed before July 1, 2010.
If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by this section, 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.
All classified employees of the department of commerce assigned to the Washington utilities and transportation commission under this section whose positions are within an existing bargaining unit description at the Washington utilities and transportation commission shall become a part of the existing bargaining unit at the Washington utilities and transportation commission and shall be considered an appropriate inclusion or modification of the existing bargaining unit under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW.
[ 2010 c 271 § 602; ]
All powers, duties, and functions of the department of information services pertaining to high-speed internet activities are transferred to the department of commerce. All references to the director or the department of information services in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the director or the department of commerce when referring to the functions transferred in this section.
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All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the department of information services pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the department of commerce. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the department of information services in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be made available to the department of commerce. All funds, credits, or other assets held in connection with the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the department of commerce.
Any appropriations made to the department of information services for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on October 1, 2011, be transferred and credited to the department of commerce.
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.
All employees of the department of information services engaged in performing the powers, functions, and duties transferred are transferred to the jurisdiction of the department of commerce. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the department of commerce 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.
All rules and all pending business before the department of information services pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the department of commerce. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the department of commerce.
The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the department of information services shall not affect the validity of any act performed before October 1, 2011.
If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by this section, 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.
All classified employees of the department of information services assigned to the department of commerce under this section whose positions are within an existing bargaining unit description at the department of commerce shall become a part of the existing bargaining unit at the department of commerce and shall be considered an appropriate inclusion or modification of the existing bargaining unit under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 1008; ]
This act may be known and cited as the "homeless youth prevention and protection act."
[ 2015 c 69 § 2; ]
If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.
[ 2015 c 296 § 11; ]
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The office, in consultation with the digital equity forum, the utilities and transportation commission, and the department of social and health services, must develop a state digital equity plan.
The office must seek any available federal funding for purposes of developing and implementing the state digital equity plan.
The state digital equity plan must include such elements as the office determines are necessary to leverage federal funding.
In developing the plan, the office must identify measurable objectives for documenting and promoting digital equity among underserved communities located in the state.
By December 1, 2023, the office must submit a report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature, including the following:
The digital equity plan described in subsection (1) of this section and measurable objectives described in subsection (2) of this section;
A description of how the office collaborated with the membership of the digital equity forum, state agencies, and key stakeholders to develop the plan including, but not limited to, the following:
Community anchor institutions;
Local governments;
Local educational agencies;
Entities that carry out workforce development programs; and
Broadband service providers;
A description of federal funding available to advance digital equity in the state, including any available information on the extent to which state residents have enrolled in the affordable connectivity program through an approved provider; and
Recommendations of additional state law or policy that can be targeted to help improve broadband adoption and affordability for state residents. This may include recommendations of ongoing subsidies that the state can provide to low-income individuals and anchor institutions, as well as identification of revenue sources that other states or jurisdictions have developed to fund such subsidies or discounted rates.
For the purpose of this section, "office" means the statewide broadband office established in RCW 43.330.532.
[ 2021 c XXX § 201; ]**
**
Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall establish a digital equity planning grant program.
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This program must provide grants to local governments, institutions of higher education, workforce development councils, or other entities to fund the development of a digital equity plan for a discrete geographic region of the state. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures.
Priority must be given for grant applications:
Accompanied by express support from community or neighborhood-based nonprofit organizations, public development authorities, federally recognized Indian tribes in the state, or other community partners and partners from the categories of institutions identified in RCW 43.330.421; and
That intend to use community-based participatory action research methods as a part of the proposed plan.
An applicant must submit an application to the department in order to be eligible for funding under this section.
The digital equity forum shall review grant applications and provide input to the department regarding the prioritization of applications in awarding grants among eligible applicants under the program.
The department must:
Pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section, evaluate and rank applications using objective criteria such as the number of underserved populations served and subjective criteria such as the degree of support and engagement evidenced by the community who will be served;
Consider the input provided by the forum, as provided in subsection (4) of this section, in awarding grants under the digital equity planning grant program; and
Consider the extent to which the mix of grants awarded would increase in the number of prekindergarten through 12th grade students gaining access to greater levels of digital inclusion as a factor in awarding grants under the digital equity planning grant program.
The department shall develop criteria for what the digital equity plans must include.
The department may adopt rules to implement this section.
[ 2021 c XXX § 305; ]**
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The Washington digital equity forum is established for the purpose of developing recommendations to advance digital connectivity in Washington state and advising the statewide broadband office on the digital equity opportunity program as provided under RCW 43.330.412 and the digital equity planning grant program as provided under section 305 of this act.
In developing its recommendations to advance digital connectivity, the forum must:
Develop goals that are consistent with the goals of the governor's statewide broadband office, as provided in RCW 43.330.536;
Strengthen public-private partnerships;
Solicit public input through public hearings or informational sessions;
Work to increase collaboration and communication between local, state, and federal governments and agencies; and
Recommend reforms to current universal service mechanisms.
The directors of the governor's statewide broadband office and the Washington state office of equity are responsible for appointing participating members of the digital equity forum and no appointment may be made unless each director concurs in the appointment. In making appointments, the directors must prioritize appointees representing:
Federally recognized tribes;
State agencies involved in digital equity; and
Underserved and unserved communities, including historically disadvantaged communities.
A majority of the participating members appointed by the directors must appoint an administrative chair for the forum.
In addition to members appointed by the directors, four legislators may serve on the digital equity forum in an ex officio capacity. Legislative participants must be appointed as follows:
The speaker of the house of representatives must appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives; and
The president of the senate must appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.
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Funds appropriated to the forum may be used to compensate, for any work done in connection with the forum, additional persons who have lived experience navigating barriers to digital connectivity and digital equity.
Each member of the digital equity forum shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses as authorized in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
Staff for the digital equity forum must be provided by the governor's statewide broadband office and the Washington state office of equity. The governor's statewide broadband office and the Washington state office of equity are jointly responsible for transmitting the recommendations of the digital equity forum to the legislature, consistent with RCW 43.01.036, by October 28, 2025, and every odd-numbered year thereafter.
[ 2021 c XXX § 306; ]**