Research and Project Management
The Research Services Team provides research and project management assistance to teams within the Washington State Department of Commerce as well as other state and local agencies. The team holds a wide range of policy review, stakeholder engagement, data analysis, project development, and research expertise.
Project Highlights
School directors’ compensation study (PDF)
The legislature tasked the Dept of Commerce through Section 129(169) of Senate Bill 5693, Laws of 2022, to determine what changes in statute or practice would be necessary to align provisions governing school director compensation with those governing the compensation of other elected officials with comparable duties and responsibilities.
Increasing access to forensic nurse examiner training (PDF)
A forensic nurse examiner (FNE) is a Registered or Advanced Practice Nurse with specialty training to provide specialized care to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and/or nonfatal strangulation. The Legislature’s 2021 bill to support victims of nonfatal strangulation (Chapter 269, Laws of 2021 (SSB 5183), Section 3 (3)) directed the Department of Commerce’s Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) to “develop strategies to make [FNE] training available to nurses
Community Reinvestment Account Plan Development
The Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Office of Equity and community partners, is responsible for building a plan by July 2023 to describe how funds will be invested to address racial, economic, and social disparities in communities across the state created by the historical design and enforcement of state and federal criminal laws and penalties for drug possession. These dollars will be distributed by Commerce as $100 million
Criminal Penalty Fees Related to Sexual Exploitation Crimes (PDF)
The eighth annual report prepared by Research Services on the collection and spending of fees related to commercial sexual abuse of a minor and other sexual exploitation crimes found that Washington courts assessed $334,761 in fees during the fiscal year, 57% of the total amount of penalty fees possible.
Hanford Healthy Energy Workers – Healthcare Needs Assessment and Recommendations
To address requirements as detailed in the 2020 ESSB 6168.127(83), the Washington State Department of Commerce convened the Hanford Healthy Energy Workers Board and provided its final report to the legislature regarding health care needs for workers at Hanford. What did the Hanford Healthy Energy Workers Board accomplish? The Hanford Healthy Energy Workers Board conducted an unmet health care needs assessment for Hanford workers and developed recommendations on how these
2021 Nontraditional Workers Study (PDF)
Research Services’ 2021 report on nontraditional workers made several key findings about the challenges that hamper interactions between state agencies and these workers, including occupational and industry conditions, cultural and geographical factors, and the worsening of existing disparities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Long-Term Care Ombuds Program Funding Model Recommendations (PDF)
In 2020, in response to a legislative directive, Research Services produced a report containing recommendations on a sustainable, transparent, and reactive funding model for the operation of Washington’s existing Long-Term Care Ombuds Program.
Washington’s Green Economy Working Group Final Report (PDF)
The 2020 Green Economy Working Group final report presents “44 recommendations and opportunities that hold strong potential to grow the state’s economy while addressing environmental challenges,” the outcome of extended collaboration that leveraged the broad expertise of a wide variety of stakeholders.
Research Services
Contact
Alice Zillah, Research Services Manager
Email: Alice.Zillah@Commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-5035