SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 2275

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 17, 1992

Brief Description:  Authorizing commercial salmon producers to form a commodity commission.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife (originally sponsored by Representatives R. King, Haugen, Basich, Jones, Wilson, Orr and Spanel)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Hearing Dates: February 19, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Agricultural commodity commissions or boards are producer-controlled organizations designed to improve the market for a particular agricultural commodity.  Funding for activities of these boards or commissions is derived from mandatory assessments on the specific product or products for which they are formed. 

Washington currently has 22 commodity commissions that affect over 29 different crops and cattle.  The total value of the farm products affected is over 80 percent of the total for the state.  In 1991, commodity commissions raised over $40 million for one or more of the following kinds of programs: advertising and promotion, production and marketing research, improvements of grades and standards, investigation of unfair trade practices, and education.

SUMMARY:

The definition of agricultural commodity in existing law pertaining to commodity commissions is expanded to include commercially harvested salmon.  The definition of producer in existing law pertaining to commodity commissions is expanded to include commercial harvesters and processors of salmon harvested in the waters of the state of Washington or pursuant to a commercial fishing license issued by the state of Washington.

Washington commercial salmon producers that elect to form a commodity commission are authorized, once the commission is established according to the Department of Agriculture's procedures, to expend commission funds for and engage in salmon habitat restoration and improvement, lost fishing net recovery, salmon production work, paying interns to work for the Department of Fisheries, any other purpose that advances or benefits the Washington salmon resource, and soliciting and expending grant funds from private and governmental sources for these activities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested