To create the Legislative International Trade Account. All funds received from gifts, grants, and endowments for international trade hosting and missions activities must be deposited in the account. Only private, nonpublic gifts, grants, and endowments may be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of international trade hosting and trade mission activities in which members of the Senate and House of Representatives participate in an official capacity. See also Companion SB 5178.   Official Text and Analysis.

By Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen; Miguel Velasquez, Consulate of Peru; and Jorge Medrano, Consulate of Mexico. They testified that relationships are the key to international trade. Proper protocol is a key element. When hosting foreign dignitaries or visiting foreign leaders, the gift presentations are an integral part to building the relationship. It is the gesture, not so much the gift, that helps solidify a friendship. Currently, some of the costs associated with trade hosting and missions are not covered, but this bill would provide a mechanism to help fund the forging of international relations and trade.
Testimony against: none offered.

To allow for expenditures for international relations activities as well as international hosting and trade mission activities. The substitute bill clarifies that solicitation by the President, state officers and employees are presumed not to be a violation of the solicitation and gift prohibitions, but these individuals are not exempted from the provisions entirely.

But the bill did not pass the House by the cutoff date so it is considered a “dead bill” (although technically the bill could become active at any time during the 2003-2004 session).