HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6354

BYSenator Barr; by request of Department of Agriculture

Removing newspaper publication requirements for hearings on apple grades and size standards.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Nealey, Ranking Republican Member; Chandler, Doty, Kirby, McLean, Rasmussen and Youngsman.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 27, 1990

BACKGROUND:

State laws permit, and in some cases direct, the director of Agriculture to adopt rules establishing standards and grades for horticultural plants and products.  The director is required to establish grades or classifications for apples and standards and sizes for these grades or classifications.  When considering changes in the standards or grades, the director must conduct hearings in each major apple producing area of the state.  Notice of the hearings must be published in the legal newspaper with the widest circulation in these areas.  These standards or grades are adopted as rules, and notices regarding them are published in the state register.

SUMMARY:

A requirement of law is repealed, which requires the local publication of notices regarding hearings to be held in apple producing areas for the consideration of proposed changes in standards or grades for apples.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Mike Schwisow, Department of Agriculture.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (1) These are the only standard and grade hearings of the many held by the Department of Agriculture for which this local legal notice is required.  Failure to remember this special notice may invalidate a rule.  (2) Most growers get their information from the news pages of local papers.  The department works closely with local publications in providing hearing information.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.