Assembly International Trade and Development Committee

Committee History

The Assembly created the Assembly International Trade and Development Committee in 1997. The new committee was created in order to divide the responsibilities of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee between two committees. The Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee retained responsibility for the common carriers, expansion of overseas markets, international trade, research and import/export finance, intrastate commerce, motion picture industry, Public Utilities Commission, state capital, telecommunications, women and minority business enterprises.

The Assembly International Trade and Development Committee became responsible for bills related to business advocacy of import/export trade, California-Mexico relations, California's overseas trade offices, development of international high tech markets, economic impact reports, effect of balance of trade issues on California, enterprise zones, foreign investments by California, foreign investments in California, impacts of federal budget on international trade, international capital, interstate commerce, seaports and physical infrastructure, sister state agreements and friendship agreements with other nations, state and local economic development, and tourism (Assembly Journal February 6, 1997, p.252-55).

In 2001, the committee was renamed the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee. The Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee was also assigned all legislation relating to international trade and economic development issues, and in addition had responsibility for information technology, economic disaster relief, industrial innovation and research, small business development and operation (Assembly Journal January 31, 2001, p.233).

The committee consisted of seven members in 1997, but the number decreased to six in 1999-2000. Grace F. Napolitano (Dem.) served as the Committee's first Chair from 1997-1998. Sally Havice (Dem.) replaced Napolitano as Chair and served from 1999-2000. (Legislative Handbook, 1997, p.243, 1999-2000, p.254, 2000, p.68)