72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 Regular Session
 
HA to HB 2011
 
LC 3039/HB 2011-2
 
                       HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO
                         HOUSE BILL 2011
 
         By COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 
                             May 14
 
  In line 2 of the printed bill, before the period insert ';
creating new provisions; and amending ORS 285A.050, 285A.090,
285A.095 and 285A.136'.
  After line 2, insert:
  ' Whereas over half of Oregon's counties are currently listed
as economically distressed; and
  ' Whereas Oregon currently has the highest unemployment rate of
any state; and
  ' Whereas the retention of existing jobs and the creation of
new jobs by existing businesses, as well as recruitment of new
employment opportunities to Oregon, are necessary for economic
prosperity; and
  ' Whereas economic stimulus measures for reinvigorating and
reversing the recent downturn in Oregon's economy should be put
forward during the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly without
regard to political party affiliations in a collaborative manner;
and
  ' Whereas economic health and viability depends on Oregon's
ability to improve the state's working environment and appeal to
the investment community for investments in Oregon; and
  ' Whereas it is important for Oregon to be competitive with
other states; and
  ' Whereas most Oregon businesses are small businesses,
employing fewer than 25 employees; and
  ' Whereas public-private partnerships must be utilized to
create jobs and retain Oregon companies; and
  ' Whereas a healthy infrastructure, including the utilization
of Oregon's ports, is critical to economic development in Oregon;
and
  ' Whereas innovative ideas are a critical component for the
long-term economic viability of the state and a key component to
building a sustainable economy; and
  ' Whereas successful economic development requires focusing on
the success of industrial, commercial and small businesses; and
  ' Whereas activities that are intended to improve economic
development should be managed under a statewide framework while
maximizing local input and direction; now, therefore,'.
  Delete lines 4 through 14 and insert:
  '  { +  SECTION 1. + }  { + The Oregon Economic and Community
Development Commission shall develop a mission statement for the
Economic and Community Development Department that gives the
highest priority to promoting job development in Oregon by:
  ' (1) Assisting existing companies that desire to expand;
  ' (2) Assisting existing companies that desire to develop new
products;
  ' (3) Promoting the commercialization of technology developed
at colleges and universities in Oregon;
  ' (4) Recruiting businesses in targeted industries to locate in
Oregon; and
 
  ' (5) Providing assistance to communities for local economic
development efforts. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 2. + }  { + The Oregon Economic and Community
Development Commission shall recommend legislation to the
Seventy-third Legislative Assembly to modify ORS 285A.090 to
reflect the priorities established under section 1 of this 2003
Act. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 3. + }  { + (1) There is established the
Governor's Council on Oregon's Economy.
  ' (2) The members of the council are:
  ' (a) The presiding officer of the Oregon Economic and
Community Development Commission;
  ' (b) The chairperson of the Oregon Transportation Commission;
  ' (c) The chairperson of the State Board of Agriculture;
  ' (d) The chairperson of the International Trade Commission;
  ' (e) The chairperson of the Oregon Council for Knowledge and
Economic Development;
  ' (f) The president of the State Board of Higher Education; and
  ' (g) Other persons designated by the Governor.
  ' (3) The council shall meet quarterly to:
  ' (a) Discuss and coordinate the activities of each entity
described in subsection (2) of this section that relate to
economic development and improving the economy in Oregon; and
  ' (b) Discuss and recommend to the Legislative Assembly methods
for creating certainty for the development process. These
recommendations must include:
  ' (A) Methods for establishing clear and objective standards
for approval processes used by local and state government; and
  ' (B) Proposed changes to existing statutes and rules that
hinder project approval. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 4. + }  { +  (1) The Oregon Economic and
Community Development Commission shall establish regions for the
purpose of job development and community assistance. When
establishing the regions, the commission must consider the
optimal size for each region that will most effectively
facilitate economic development activities in the region. Regions
established by the commission do not have to be of the same size
or population.
  ' (2) The Director of the Economic and Community Development
Department shall provide for economic innovation coordination in
the central office, which shall assist the field representatives
in:
  ' (a) Establishing contacts between local businesses and
universities and community colleges in Oregon to promote the use
of the research capacities of these institutions for development
of new products; and
  ' (b) Serving as a liaison between the clients of the Economic
and Community Development Department and the Oregon Council for
Knowledge and Economic Development to promote effective linkage
between regional economic development efforts and technological
advances in Oregon. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 5. + }  { + The Legislative Assembly declares
that a significant purpose of the strategic investment program
established in ORS 285B.383, 285B.386 and 307.123 is to improve
employment in areas where eligible projects are to be located and
urges business firms that will benefit from an eligible project
to hire employees from the region in which the eligible project
is to be located whenever practicable. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 6. + } ORS 285A.050 is amended to read:
  ' 285A.050. (1) The Oregon Economic and Community Development
Commission shall report   { - biennially - }   { + annually + }
to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly on the success of
economic development efforts. The report, at a minimum, shall
include the following:
 
 
  ' (a) For the overall Economic and Community Development
Department effort and for each identifiable program and
significant project or service:
  ' (A) The impact of that program on the competitiveness of
traded sector industries and the skill levels of the Oregon
workforce;
  ' (B) The impact on the number of jobs, including jobs created
and retained;
  ' (C) The impact on the wage levels of Oregon workers,
including increases in wage levels;
  ' (D) The actual or anticipated impact of public investments at
all levels, in terms of measurable outcomes wherever possible;
and
  ' (E) The impact of that program on the Internet-based entities
and employees in Oregon.
  ' (b) The status of the Oregon economy related to:
  ' (A) Changes in employment and wage levels in Oregon
industries;
  ' (B) Changes in employment, wage levels and competitiveness of
traded sector industries; and
  ' (C) Barriers that have been identified as impeding business
competitiveness and productivity in this state.
  ' (c) Progress made toward achievement of the Oregon
Benchmarks.
  ' (d) Recommendations for removing identified barriers and
additional suggestions for improving the performance of Oregon's
economy.
  ' (e) Recommendations on this state's investment in its public
ports, on this state's response to policy issues that affect
ports and for the strategic development of port facilities that
promote maritime commerce, recreational opportunities and the
economy of Oregon.
  ' (f) Progress made toward elimination of economically
distressed areas of this state.
  ' (g) Recommendations regarding improving the international
competitiveness of Oregon.
  ' (h) Progress made in serving microenterprise businesses and
recommendations for increasing the success of microenterprises.
  ' (2) Whenever a power is granted to the commission, the power
may be exercised by such officers, employees or
commission-appointed committees as are designated in writing by
the commission.
  '  { +  (3) Reports to the Legislative Assembly required under
this section shall be made in accordance with ORS 192.245. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 7. + } ORS 285A.090 is amended to read:
  ' 285A.090. The Economic and Community Development Department
shall:
  ' (1) Implement programs consistent with policies of the Oregon
Economic and Community Development Commission.
  ' (2) Provide field representatives in the various geographical
regions of the state. The field representatives shall be in the
unclassified service and shall receive such salary as may be set
by the Director of the Economic and Community Development
Department, unless otherwise provided by law. The field
representatives shall:
  '  { +  (a) Serve as internal advocates and centralized
contacts within state government for businesses seeking to locate
or expand in the region and shall guide the businesses through
all required processes with state regulatory agencies and local
units of government to facilitate and expedite siting or
expansion of the businesses within the businesses' budgets and in
an economically viable manner;
  ' (b) Seek assistance and direction for resolving delays for a
project from the Governor or a designee of the Governor when a
project has been unreasonably delayed by governmental action; + }
 
  '  { - (a) - }   { + (c) + } Work with local units of
government and the private sector   { - to encourage and to
assist them - }  as they establish and carry out economic
development plans and programs under ORS 280.500;
  '  { - (b) Promote local awareness of department policy and
department programs and services and of assistance and economic
incentives available from government at all levels; and - }
  '  { +  (d) Establish links with and act as liaisons between
businesses seeking to locate or expand in the region and
resources within the public and private institutions of higher
education in Oregon familiar with technological advancements and
grant opportunities;
  ' (e) Serve as liaisons between businesses seeking to locate or
expand in the region and appropriate governmental, university,
community college and industry representatives to assist and
partner with the businesses in their developmental efforts;
  ' (f) Assemble regional rapid response teams that include
regional departmental staff and representatives of local
governments in the region to work with businesses seeking to
locate or expand in the region by facilitating developmental
procedures and eliminating obstacles to completion of projects;
  ' (g) Assign specific responsibilities for and monitor progress
of rapid response team members toward completion of tasks
essential to the achievement of a successful outcome of a project
for all parties involved;
  ' (h) Coordinate client meetings with members of rapid response
teams to establish and monitor the adherence to developmental
timelines and to ensure client satisfaction with services
provided; + }
  '  { - (c) - }   { + (i) + } Deliver to local units of
government and the private sector the assistance and services
available from the department, including publications, research
and technical and financial assistance programs  { - . - }  { + ;
and
  ' (j) Promote local awareness of department policy and
department programs and services and of assistance and economic
incentives available from government at all levels. + }
  ' (3) Process requests received by state agencies and
interested parties for information pertaining to industrial and
commercial locations and relocations throughout the state.
  ' (4) Consult and advise with, coordinate activities of, and
give technical assistance and encouragement to, state and local
organizations, including local development corporations, county,
city, and metropolitan-area committees, chambers of commerce,
labor organizations and similar agencies interested in obtaining
new industrial plants or commercial enterprises.
  ' (5) Act as the state's official liaison agency between
persons interested in locating industrial or business firms in
the state, and state and local groups seeking new industry or
business, maintaining the confidential nature of the negotiations
it conducts as requested by persons contemplating location in the
state.
  ' (6) Coordinate state and federal economic development
programs.
  ' (7) Consult and advise with, coordinate activities of, and
give technical assistance and encouragement to all parties
including, but not limited to, port districts within the state
working in the field of international trade or interested in
promoting their own trading activity.
  ' (8) Provide advice and technical assistance to Oregon
business and labor.
  ' (9) Collect and disseminate information regarding the
advantages of developing new business and expanding existing
business in the state.
 
 
  ' (10) Aid local communities in planning for and obtaining new
business to locate therein and provide assistance in local
applications for federal development grants.
  ' (11) Work actively to recruit domestic and international
business firms to those communities that desire such recruitment.
  ' (12) In carrying out its duties under ORS chapters 285A and
285B and ORS 329.905 to 329.975, give priority to assisting small
businesses in this state by encouraging the creation of new
businesses, the expansion of existing businesses and the
retention of economically distressed businesses which are
economically viable.
  ' (13) Establish and operate foreign trade offices in those
foreign countries in which the department considers a foreign
trade office necessary using department employees, contracts with
public or private persons or a combination of department
employees and contractors. Department employees, including
managers, who are assigned to work in a foreign trade office
shall be in the unclassified service, and the director shall set
the salaries of those persons. Foreign trade offices shall
provide one or more of the following services:
  ' (a) Work with the private sector to assist them in finding
international markets for their goods and services;
  ' (b) Work with local units of government to assist them in
locating foreign businesses within their jurisdiction;
  ' (c) Promote awareness in foreign countries of department
policy, programs and services and of assistance and economic
incentives available from government at all levels; or
  ' (d) Provide other assistance considered necessary by the
director.
  '  { +  SECTION 8. + } ORS 285A.095 is amended to read:
  ' 285A.095. (1) When providing funding for a project, for a
program or for technical assistance, the Economic and Community
Development Department shall give priority to counties, cities,
communities or other geographic areas that are designated as
distressed areas by the Economic and Community Development
Department, based on indicators of economic distress or
dislocation, including but not limited to unemployment, poverty
and job loss.
  ' (2) Prior to defining or designating distressed areas for the
purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the Economic and
Community Development Department shall consult with other state
agencies and with local agencies and officials.
  ' (3) The Economic and Community Development Department shall
conduct a review of its compliance with subsections (1) and (2)
of this section at least once in each year and shall prepare a
report concerning the compliance review. The report shall be
incorporated into the   { - biennial - }   { + annual + } report
of the Oregon Economic and Community Development Commission
required by ORS 285A.050.
  '  { +  SECTION 9. + } ORS 285A.136 is amended to read:
  ' 285A.136. The International Trade Commission shall prepare
and submit to the Governor and to the Legislative Assembly a
biennial report on January 15, 1999, and on January 15 of every
other year thereafter. The report shall be incorporated into the
  { - biennial - }   { + annual + } report of the Oregon Economic
and Community Development Commission required by ORS 285A.050.
The report required by this section shall include, but not be
limited to, the following:
  ' (1) A description of the activities of the International
Trade Commission during the two-year reporting period.
  ' (2) Information and data on relevant trade patterns and
trends.
  ' (3) Recommendations, including long-range strategic plans and
legislative proposals.
  ' (4) An action agenda for the subsequent two years.'.
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