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PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION. The Pacific northwest
economic region is hereby enacted into law and entered into
by the state of
Idaho as a party, and is in full force and effect in
accordance with the terms
of this agreement.
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION
ARTICLE I -- Policy and Purpose
States and provinces participating in the Pacific northwest
economic
region shall seek to develop and establish policies that:
promote greater
regional collaboration among the seven (7) entities; enhance
the overall
competitiveness of the region in international and domestic
markets; increase
the economic well-being of all citizens in the region; and
improve the quality
of life of the citizens of the Pacific northwest.
States and provinces recognize that there are many public
policy areas in
which cooperation and joint efforts would be mutually
beneficial. These areas
include, but are not limited to: international trade;
economic development;
human resources; the environment and natural resources;
energy; and education.
Parties to this agreement shall work diligently to establish
collaborative
activity in these and other appropriate policy areas where
such cooperation is
deemed worthwhile and of benefit to the participating
entities. Participating
states and provinces also agree that there are areas in
which cooperation may
not be feasible.
The substantive actions of the Pacific northwest economic
region may take
the form of uniform legislation enacted by two (2) or more
states and/or
provinces or policy initiatives endorsed as appropriate by
participating
entities. It shall not be necessary for all states and
provinces to
participate in each initiative.
ARTICLE II -- Eligible Parties and Effective Date
Each of the following states and provinces is eligible to
become a party
to this agreement: Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho,
Montana, Oregon
and Washington. This agreement establishing the Pacific
northwest economic
region shall become effective when it is executed by one (1)
state, one (1)
province, and one (1) additional state and/or province in a
form deemed
appropriate by each entity. This agreement shall continue in
force and remain
binding upon each state and province until renounced by it.
Renunciation of
this agreement must be preceded by sending one (1) year's
notice in writing of
intention to withdraw from the agreement to the other
parties to the
agreement.
ARTICLE III -- Organizational Structure
Each state and province participating in this agreement shall
appoint
representatives to the Pacific northwest economic region.
The organizational
structure of the Pacific northwest economic region shall
consist of the
following: a delegate council consisting of four (4)
legislators and the
governor or governor's designee from each participating
state and four (4)
representatives and the premier or the premier's designee
from each
participating province and an executive committee consisting
of one (1)
legislator from each participating state and/or province who
is a member of
the delegate council and four (4) of the seven (7)
governors/premiers or their
designees who are members of the delegate council. The
legislator members of
the executive committee from each state or province shall be
chosen by the
legislator members of that state or province. The four
(4) governor or
premier members of the executive committee shall be chosen
by the governors
and premiers from among the governors and premiers on the
delegate council.
At least one (1) of four (4) members representing the
governors and premiers
on the executive committee must be the premier of a Canadian
province. Policy
committees may be established to carry out further duties
and responsibilities
of the Pacific northwest economic region.
ARTICLE IV -- Duties and Responsibilities
The delegate council shall have the following duties and
responsibilities:
facilitate the involvement of other government officials in
the development
and implementation of specific collaborative initiatives;
work with
policy-making committees in the development and
implementation of specific
initiatives; approve general organizational policies
developed by the
executive committee; provide final approval of the annual
budget and staffing
structure for the Pacific northwest economic region
developed by the executive
committee; and other duties and responsibilities as may be
established in the
rules and regulations of the Pacific northwest economic
region. The executive
committee shall perform the following duties and
responsibilities: elect the
president and vice president of the Pacific northwest
economic region; approve
and implement general organizational policies; develop the
annual budget;
devise the annual action plan; act as liaison with other
public and private
sector entities; review the availability of, and if
appropriate apply for: (1)
tax exempt status under the laws and regulations of the
United States or any
state or subdivision thereof; and (2) similar status under
the laws and
regulations of Canada or any province or subdivision
thereof, and approve such
rules, regulations, organizational policies, and staffing
structure for the
Pacific northwest economic region and take such further
actions on behalf of
the Pacific northwest economic region as may be deemed by
the executive
committee to be necessary or appropriate to qualify for and
maintain such tax
exempt or similar status under the applicable laws or
regulations; and other
duties and responsibilities established in the rules and
regulations of the
Pacific northwest economic region. The rules and regulations
of the Pacific
northwest economic region shall establish the procedure for
voting.
ARTICLE V -- Membership of Policy Committees
Policy committees dealing with specific subject matter may be
established
by the executive committee.
Each participating state and province shall appoint
legislators to sit on
these committees in accordance with its own rules and
regulations concerning
such appointments.
ARTICLE VI -- General Provisions
This agreement shall not be construed to limit the powers of
any state or
province or to amend or repeal or prevent the enactment of
any legislation.
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