Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee

HB 1897

Brief Description:  Modifying requirements to receive state allocations for an agricultural fair.

Sponsors:  Representatives Delvin, Hankins, Poulsen, Grant, B. Chandler, Mastin and G. Chandler .

Brief Summary of Bill

$Allows county fairs that have operated at least two years to reorganize as an area fair and be eligible for state fair funding.

Hearing Date:  2/21/01

Staff:  Jeff Olsen (786‑7157).

Background: 

The Fair Fund allocates funding to qualifying fairs to encourage agricultural fairs and train rural youth.  Fairs eligible for state fair funding allocations are divided into four categories:

1) Area Fairs  - Fairs that are not under the jurisdiction of boards of county commissioners and are organized to serve an area larger than one county;

2) County and District Fairs - Fairs organized to serve the interests of a single county that are under the control and supervision of the county commissioners of their respective counties;

3) Community Fairs - Fairs organized primarily to serve a smaller area than an area or county fair; and

4) Youth Shows and Fairs - Fairs approved by agents of the Washington State University or the Superintendent of Public Instruction that serve three or more counties and the purpose of which is education and training of rural youth.

Before a fair may be eligible to receive state fair funding allocations it must have conducted two consecutive fairs immediately preceding an application for funding.  Between January 1994 and June 1997 the director of the Department of Agriculture had the authority to waive the two year operating requirement for county fairs that had received fair funding and reorganized as an area fair.

Summary of Bill: 

The ability of the director of the Department of Agriculture to waive the requirement that an agricultural fair must successfully operate for two years before receiving fair funding allocations no longer expires on June 30, 1997.  Specifically, county fairs that have successfully operated for at least two years since January 1, 1994, may reorganize as an area fair and be eligible for state fair funding.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.