(1) The Washington state economic development commission is established to assist the governor and legislature by providing leadership, direction, and guidance on a long-term and systematic approach to economic development that will result in enduring global competitiveness, prosperity, and economic opportunity for all the state's citizens.

     (2)(a) The commission consists of twenty-four members. Fifteen of the members must be voting members appointed by the governor as follows: Eight representatives of the private sector, one representative of labor from east of the crest of the Cascade mountains and one representative of labor from west of the crest of the Cascade mountains, one representative of port districts, one representative of four-year state public higher education, one representative of state community or technical colleges, one representative with expertise in international trade, and one representative of associate development organizations. The director of the department of commerce, the director of the workforce training and education coordinating board, the commissioner of the employment security department, the secretary of the department of transportation, the director of the department of agriculture, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate overseeing economic development policies must serve as nonvoting ex officio members.

     (b) Members may not designate alternates, substitutes, or surrogates. However, members may participate in a meeting by conference telephone or similar communications equipment so that all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation by that method constitutes presence in person at a meeting.

     (c) The chair of the commission must be a private sector voting member selected by the governor with the consent of the senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. A vice chair must be elected by members of the commission but may not be the director of an executive branch agency or a member of the legislature. The vice chair must exercise the duties of the commission chair in his or her absence.

     (d) In making the appointments, the governor must consult with the commission and 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.

     (e) The members must 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 must represent existing and emerging industries, small businesses, women-owned businesses, and minority-owned businesses. Members of the commission must serve statewide interests while preserving their diverse perspectives, and must be recognized leaders in their fields with demonstrated experience in economic development, innovation, or disciplines related to economic development.

     (3) Members appointed by the governor serve at the pleasure of the governor for not more than two consecutive three-year terms, except that, as determined by the governor, the terms of four of the appointees on the commission on July 22, 2011, expire in 2012, the terms of four of the appointees on the commission on July 22, 2011, expire in 2013, and the terms of three of the appointees on the commission on July 22, 2011, expire in 2014. Thereafter all terms are for three years. Vacancies must be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

     (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 must be appointed by the governor with the consent of the commission. The salary of the executive director must be set by the governor with the consent of the commission. The governor may dismiss the executive 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. The commission must evaluate the performance of the executive director in a manner consistent with the process used by the governor to evaluate the performance of agency directors.

     (6) The commission may adopt policies and procedures for its own governance.

[2011 c 311 § 2; 2007 c 232 § 2; 2003 c 235 § 2.]