The proposed bill establishes the Washington State Supply Chain Competitiveness Infrastructure Program, which aims to enhance the state's global trade competitiveness by improving critical infrastructure for the transport and movement of goods. It emphasizes collaboration among stakeholders, including the Department of Commerce and public ports, to prioritize infrastructure projects that support the supply chain. A dedicated account, the supply chain competitiveness infrastructure program account, will be created in the state treasury to fund these initiatives through grants and loans to public ports and federally recognized tribal governments. The bill also sets specific goals for infrastructure projects, such as improving transportation and ensuring efficient freight movement, while mandating the development of performance metrics for project evaluation.
Additionally, the bill amends existing laws related to the treasury income account, clarifying the management and distribution of earnings from various state treasury accounts. It specifies that the state treasurer will distribute earnings from the treasury income account to various accounts based on their average daily balance, ensuring fair allocation across state programs. The bill reinforces the requirement for affirmative directives for earnings allocation, in compliance with the state constitution. It also introduces provisions for the management of refunds and allocations of interest earnings as mandated by the federal Cash Management Improvement Act, allowing for fund transfers and clarifying that no appropriation is required for certain payments.