SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6291

BYSenate Committee on Agriculture (originally sponsored by Senators Hansen, Barr and Rasmussen)

Regulating purple loosestrife.

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 18, 1990; February 2, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6291 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Barr, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Gaspard, Hansen, Madsen, Newhouse.

Senate Staff:Bob Lee (786-7404)

                  February 8, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 14, 1990; February 15, 1990

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6291 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Bailey, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Owen, Smith, Talmadge, Warnke, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Michael Groesch (786-7715)

                  March 1, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 26, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Purple loosestrife is a plant that grows on wetland areas in the state.  Though its existence in the state was first documented in 1933, it is experiencing a rapid spread in many areas, particularly in eastern Washington.  In one county, it has spread from one acre in 1977 to over 20,000 acres currently.  The plant has the ability to invade wetland areas, crowd out plants that provide beneficial habitat to wildlife and establish a loosestrife monoculture.

State weed control laws require the person who has authority over the land to control noxious weeds on their property.  If the person who has authority over the land fails to control the weed, the local weed board can cause the weeds to be controlled and obtain reimbursement of expense.

A significant portion of the purple loosestrife exists on lands owned or managed by state agencies.  Currently there is concern about the adequacy of efforts to avoid further spread and to reduce the acreage of the loosestrife infestation on wetlands in the state.

SUMMARY:

A program to control and eradicate purple loosestrife shall be jointly developed by the Department of Wildlife, Department of Agriculture and the State Noxious Weed Control Board.  An advisory committee may be appointed to assist in the development of the program and all state agencies are directed to cooperate.  The goal of the program is to eliminate the spread in the short term and to eradicate major infested areas by December 1995.  If a less costly and equally effective program with a different time frame can be developed, the December 1995 date can be modified.

A cost-sharing formula is established for the control of weeds on land managed by the Department of Wildlife.  One-third of the cost is to come from the state general fund, one-third from the wildlife fund, and one-third from grants or in-kind donations from private sources, or federal, state or local governments.  If the grants and in-kind donations are not sufficient to fully provide one-third, the department is to utilize existing funds.

The sale and use of viable purple loosestrife seed or plant material is prohibited.  Fines of up to $100 per day may be assessed by the Department of Agriculture or the State Noxious Weed Control Board for unlawful sales.

Enactment is made contingent upon funding in the budget.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: AGRICULTURE:  Daryl Jackson; Lee Smith, Wildlife; Catherine Hovanic, Washington State Noxious Weed Control; William E. Brookreson, Plant Services Division,  Department of Agriculture; Robert J. Leonard, Noxious Weed Control Board of Grant County

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  Senator Hansen, prime sponsor; Catherine Hovanic