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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

In 2018, under enacted SSB 6095, Section 1004 (10), the Department of Commerce was tasked by the Legislature to explore potential future uses of the Interbay Property located in Seattle’s Ballard-Interbay manufacturing industrial center that was being used as a readiness center by the Washington National Guard (Guard). The Interbay Public Development Advisory Committee’s Recommendations and Implementation Plan The Governor and Legislature appointed members of the Interbay Public Development Advisory

In 2019, Research Services published its final report on independent contractor employment in Washington state, making key findings about the prevalence of independent contract work, the earnings and benefits of independent contractors, their experiences and needs, and the state of existing data systems related to independent contract work.