H-1867.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1161
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By House Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Schoesler, Rayburn, Chandler, Kremen, Grant, Foreman, Sheahan, Morton, R. Johnson, Mielke, Jacobsen, Hansen, Fuhrman, Padden, Shin, Miller, Wood and Silver)
Read first time 02/26/93.
AN ACT Relating to agricultural products; adding new sections to chapter 70.95C RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that the disposal of packaging materials imposes costs and environmental hazards to the state and the region. At the same time, the state of Washington is a major producer of wheat and peas, two products that make an excellent source of biodegradable plastics. Perfecting the technology for transforming wheat and peas into biodegradable plastics would benefit the state's consumers and ecology and would increase the sale and use of these products that are grown in many rural counties.
(2) Washington State University shall undertake the research necessary to perfect the technology needed to transform wheat and peas into appropriate plastic packaging materials. This will involve three primary steps: (a) Developing effective fractionation processes to break the wheat and peas into their usable components, (b) developing the technology for transforming the starch components into plastics, and (c) finding economic uses for the glutens, dietary fibers, and other components, so the manufacturing of the entire grain or legume can be done at breakeven cost or above.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The legislature finds that there are opportunities to develop technologies for grain and legume processing that can help consumers, the environment, and rural communities of the state of Washington. Without assistance from the state, these technologies cannot be brought to the point where private sector commercialization and application can take place.
(2) Washington State University shall develop and execute a plan to address systematically the current obstacles to development and commercialization of biodegradable plastics from wheat and legumes.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act are each added to chapter 70.95C RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If specific funding for the purposes of sections 1 through 3 of this act, referencing sections 1 through 3 of this act by bill number, is not provided by June 30, 1993, in the omnibus appropriations act, sections 1 through 3 of this act shall be null and void.
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