HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESSB 5143
As Passed House:
March 24, 2023
Title: An act relating to changing the name of and adding a member to the commission on pesticide registration.
Brief Description: Changing the name of and adding a member to the commission on pesticide registration.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Senators Torres, Dhingra, Rolfes, Salda?a, Shewmake and Warnick).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Agriculture and Natural Resources: 3/14/23, 3/17/23 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/24/23, 96-0.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill
  • Changes the name of the Commission on Pesticide Registration to the Commission on Integrated Pest Management (Commission).
  • Adds a representative of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 as a nonvoting member of the Commission.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 10 members:Representatives Chapman, Chair; Morgan, Vice Chair; Reeves, Vice Chair; Dent, Ranking Minority Member; Kloba, Kretz, Lekanoff, Orcutt, Schmick and Springer.
Staff: Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).
Background:

The Commission on Pesticide Registration.
The Commission on Pesticide Registration (Commission) was created in 1995 to provide guidance concerning evaluations, studies, or investigations regarding registration or reregistration of pesticides for crops and uses considered to be minor in the national context and the availability of pesticides for emergency uses.  The Commission also assists agricultural organizations in providing funding, in-kind services, or materials for research, implementation, and demonstration of any aspect of integrated pest management and pesticide resistance management programs.

 

The Commission is made up of 12 voting members appointed by the Director of the Department of Agriculture.  The voting members include:

  • eight members from various agricultural industries, including tree fruit growers, hop growers, potato growers, wheat growers, vegetable and seed growers, berry growers, wine grape growers, and the nursery and landscape industry; and
  • one member each from the forest protection industry, food processors, agricultural chemical industry, and professional pesticide applicators. 


There are five nonvoting members on the Commission representing the departments of Agriculture, Health, Ecology, and Labor and Industries, and Washington State University. 

 

Integrated Pest Management.
Integrated pest management is a strategy that uses various combinations of biological, cultural, and chemical pest control methods in a compatible manner to achieve satisfactory control and ensure favorable economic and environmental consequences.
Summary of Bill:

The name of the Commission on Pesticide Registration is changed to the Commission on Integrated Pest Management (Commission).  A representative of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 who has working knowledge of federal pesticide policy issues is added as a nonvoting member of the Commission.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Changing the name of the Commission on Pesticide Registration to the Commission on Integrated Pest Management (Commission) more accurately reflects what the Commission does.  In a state with over 300 agricultural commodities, pesticide management issues can sometimes be sudden and require quick action.  The Commission does not have a role in registering pesticides, but does work to fill the state's toolbox of options to address pest issues.  Pesticides are not the only option to address pest issues and some of the best tools are not pesticides at all.  Adding a nonvoting member that represents the Environmental Protection Agency's Pacific Northwest region will help with coordination with the federal government on various pest control issues.  Voting members on the Commission are almost always in management roles in the industries that they represent, but they also generally have prior field-level experience.


(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Nikki Torres, prime sponsor; and Kelly McLain, Department of Agriculture.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.