AN ACT Relating to agricultural marketing; amending RCW 43.31.370; adding new sections to chapter 43.23 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature declares that:

(1) Marketing is a dynamic and changing part of Washington agriculture and a vital element in expanding the state economy.

(2) The export of agricultural products produced in Washington state contributes substantial benefits to the economic base of the state, provides a large number of jobs and sizeable tax revenues to state and local governments, provides an important stabilizing effect on prices received by agricultural producers, and contributes to the United States balance of trade.

(3) State government should play a significant role in the development and expansion of markets for Washington grown and processed agricultural and food products.

(4) In order for state government to serve the best interests of agriculture in the area of market development, the role of state government in this area must be clearly defined.

(5) The department of agriculture, the department of commerce and economic development, and the IMPACT center at Washington State University, each possesses its own unique body of knowledge, expertise, and relationships that, when combined and applied in a logical and cooperative manner, will benefit the agricultural industry and the overall state economy and will provide a powerful force to seek aggressively new domestic and international markets for Washington's agricultural products.

It is the intent of the legislature to establish an organized agricultural market development function within state government with clearly defined areas of responsibility which will be responsive to the state's agricultural and food products industries' needs, without duplicating established private sector marketing efforts.

Sec. 2. Section 4, chapter 221, Laws of 1967 as amended by section 9, chapter 175, Laws of 1984 and RCW 43.31.370 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of commerce and economic development through the office of international trade is hereby designated the agency of state government for the promotion and development of international trade of products other than agricultural commodities and goods and shall, in addition to the powers and duties otherwise imposed by law, have the following powers and duties:

(1) To study the potential marketability of various ((~~agricultural,~~)) natural resource((,)) and manufacturing commodities of this state in international trade;

(2) To collect, prepare, and analyze international and domestic market data;

(3) To maintain close contact with international firms and governmental agencies and to act as an effective intermediary between nations other than the United States and Washington traders;

(4) To publish and disseminate to interested citizens and others information which will aid in carrying out the purposes of RCW 43.31.040 and 43.31.350 through 43.31.370;

(5) To encourage and promote the movement of international and domestic goods through the ports of Washington;

(6) To conduct an active program by sending representatives to, or engaging representatives in, other nations to promote the state as an international trade center;

(7) To assist and to make Washington ((~~agricultural,~~)) natural resource((,)) and manufacturing concerns more aware of the potentials of international trade and to encourage production of those ((~~commodities~~)) products which will have high export potentials and appeal;

(8) To administer state participation in state or international trade fairs;

(9) To coordinate the trade promotional activities of appropriate federal, state, and local public agencies, as well as civic organizations;

(10) To administer the honorary commercial attache program established under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

The department of agriculture is hereby designated as the agency of state government for the administration and implementation of state agricultural market development programs and activities, both domestic and foreign, and shall, in addition to the powers and duties otherwise imposed by law, have the following powers and duties:

(1) To study the potential marketability of various agricultural commodities of this state in foreign and domestic trade;

(2) To collect, prepare, and analyze foreign and domestic market data;

(3) To encourage and promote the sale of Washington's agricultural commodities and products at the site of their production through the development and dissemination of referral maps and other means;

(4) To encourage and promote those agricultural industries, such as the wine industry, which attract visitors to rural areas in which other agricultural commodities and products are produced and are, or could be, made available for sale;

(5) To encourage and promote the establishment and use of public markets in this state for the sale of Washington's agricultural products;

(6) To maintain close contact with foreign firms and governmental agencies and to act as an effective intermediary between foreign nations and Washington traders;

(7) To publish and disseminate to interested citizens and others information which will aid in carrying out the purposes of chapters 43.23, 15.64, 15.65, and 15.66 RCW;

(8) To encourage and promote the movement of foreign and domestic agricultural goods through the ports of Washington;

(9) To conduct an active program by sending representatives to, or engaging representatives in, foreign countries to promote the state's agricultural commodities and products;

(10) To assist and to make Washington agricultural concerns more aware of the potentials of foreign trade and to encourage production of those commodities that will have high export potential and appeal;

(11) To coordinate the trade promotional activities of appropriate federal, state, and local public agencies, as well as civic organizations; and

(12) To develop a coordinated marketing program with the department of commerce and economic development, utilizing existing trade offices and participating in mutual trade missions and activities.

As used in this section, "agricultural commodities" includes products of both terrestrial and aquatic farming.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

(1) There is hereby created the agricultural market development advisory committee. The advisory committee shall consist of twelve members appointed by the governor as follows: Two persons selected by a vote of the existing agricultural commodity commissions, one person representing fresh food shippers, two persons representing growers of commodities not presently represented by agricultural commodity commissions, one person representing agricultural cooperatives, one person representing processors of agricultural products, one person representing food products brokers, one person representing transportation, two persons representing agriculture at large and selected from names submitted by established agricultural organizations, and one person representing agricultural trade finance. The following persons shall serve as ex officio members of the committee: The chairman and ranking minority member of the agriculture committee of the state house of representatives and the chairman and ranking minority member of the agriculture committee of the state senate. The following persons shall serve as nonvoting ex officio members of the committee: The director of agriculture; the director of commerce and economic development; and the dean of the college of agriculture and home economics at Washington State University.

(2) The committee shall advise the director of agriculture, the director of commerce and economic development, and the dean of the college of agriculture and home economics on: The development, administration, and revision of agricultural marketing programs and activities conducted by the department of agriculture under section 3 of this act; the policies, programs, and activities of the IMPACT center; and the general assistance to be provided by the department of commerce and economic development for the agricultural marketing programs and activities of the department of agriculture and the IMPACT center.

(3) Members of the committee appointed by the governor shall receive compensation in the amount provided under RCW 43.03.230 for each day spent in attendance at or in traveling to and from meetings of the committee, or on special assignment for the committee, together with travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members of the committee shall receive compensation in accordance with chapter 44.04 RCW.

(4) Of the initial members of the committee appointed by the governor, three shall serve for two years as determined by the governor with terms commencing on July 1, 1985. All other terms of persons who are not ex officio members shall be for four years.

The chairperson is to be selected by a vote of the members of the committee and shall serve for a period of two years commencing on July 1st of odd-numbered years.

The committee shall meet at least twice per year and shall meet additional times upon the call of the chairperson.

(5) The funding of the advisory committee shall be shared equally by the department of agriculture and the IMPACT center, and paid from the appropriations made by the legislature to carry out the department's agricultural market development programs, and the IMPACT center's research responsibilities.