H-4309              _______________________________________________

                                          SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1355

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By House Committee on Agriculture (originally sponsored by Representatives Madsen, R. King, Vekich, P. King, Baugher, Isaacson, Todd, C. Smith and K. Wilson)

Read first time 1/29/86 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to the department of agriculture; amending RCW 43.23.035; and making an appropriation.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 3, chapter 159, Laws of 1985 and RCW 43.23.035 are each amended 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 establish a program to promote and assist in the marketing of Washington-bred horses;

(4) 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))) (5) 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))) (6) To encourage and promote the establishment and use of public markets in this state for the sale of Washington's agricultural products;

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

          (((7))) (8) 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))) (9) To encourage and promote the movement of foreign and domestic agricultural goods through the ports of Washington;

          (((9))) (10) 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))) (11) 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))) (12) To coordinate the trade promotional activities of appropriate federal, state, and local public agencies, as well as civic organizations; and

          (((12))) (13) To develop a coordinated marketing program with the department of ((commerce)) trade 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. 2.     The sum of forty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the department of agriculture to implement section 1(3) of this act.