43.162.010 - Washington state economic development commission -- Membership -- Rules.

Washington state economic development commission — Membership — Rules.

(1) The Washington state economic development commission is established to oversee the economic development strategies and policies of the *department of community, trade, and economic development.

     (2)(a) The Washington state economic development commission shall consist of eleven voting members appointed by the governor as follows: Six representatives of the private sector, one representative of labor, one representative of port districts, one representative of four-year state public higher education, one representative for state community or technical colleges, and one representative of associate development organizations. The director of the *department of community, trade, and economic development, the director of the workforce training and education coordinating board, the commissioner of the employment security department, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate overseeing economic development policies shall serve as nonvoting ex officio members.

     The chair of the commission shall be a voting member selected by the governor with the consent of the senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. In selecting the chair, the governor shall seek a person who understands the future economic needs of the state and nation and the role the state's economic development system has in meeting those needs.

     (b) In making the appointments, the governor shall consult with organizations that have an interest in economic development, including, but not limited to, industry associations, labor organizations, minority business associations, economic development councils, chambers of commerce, port associations, tribes, and the chairs of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over economic development.

     (c) The members shall be representative of the geographic regions of the state, including eastern and central Washington, as well as represent the ethnic diversity of the state. Private sector members shall represent existing and emerging industries, small businesses, women-owned businesses, and minority-owned businesses. Members of the commission shall serve statewide interests while preserving their diverse perspectives, and shall be recognized leaders in their fields with demonstrated experience in economic development or disciplines related to economic development.

     (3) Members appointed by the governor shall serve at the pleasure of the governor for three-year terms.

     (4) The commission may establish committees as it desires, and may invite nonmembers of the commission to serve as committee members.

     (5) The executive director of the commission shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the voting members of the commission. The governor may dismiss the director only with the approval of a majority vote of the commission. The commission, by a majority vote, may dismiss the executive director with the approval of the governor.

     (6) The commission may adopt rules for its own governance.

[2007 c 232 § 2; 2003 c 235 § 2.]

Notes: *Reviser's note: The "department of community, trade, and economic development" was renamed the "department of commerce" by 2009 c 565.