HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1362

BYRepresentatives Nealey, Betrozoff, Rasmussen and McLean

Revising provisions on weights and measures.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Baugher, Bristow, Brooks, Chandler, Doty, Grant, Holm, R. King, McLean, Moyer, Nealey and Rasmussen.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

FEBRUARY 2, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Butter and margarine must be offered for sale by weight and only in units of 1/4 pound, 1/2 pound, one pound or multiples of one pound.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Director of Agriculture may allow the sale of butter specialty products in nonstandard units of weight if the purpose achieved by using these nonstandard units is decorative in nature and the products are clearly labeled as to weight and price per pound.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill is reworded to refer to nonstandard weights of butter rather than referring to nonstandard butter products.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Betrozoff; Jim Wommack, Department of Agriculture; and Dan Coyne, Washington State Dairymen's Federation.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Butter is sold in standard sizes as a consumer protection measure.  However, a cottage industry has developed for creating decorative, gourmet patties for restaurants.  These cannot currently be sold at retail outlets.  The bill would permit such sales.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.