Date of Adoption: May 26, 1999.

Purpose: Increase nursery inspection and license fees within the fiscal growth factors for both fiscal year 1999 and 2000.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-401-019, 16-401-020, 16-401-023, 16-401-025, 16-401-030, 16-401-040, and 16-401-050.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapters 15.13 and 15.14 RCW.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 99-07-126 on March 24, 1999.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 3, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 4, Amended 7, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

May 26, 1999

Jim Jesernig

Director

OTS-2974.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 4016, filed 12/1/92, effective 1/1/93)

WAC 16-401-019
Schedule of fees and charges--Billing policies and procedures.

(1) All billable services provided under chapter 15.13 RCW are due and payable upon billing by the department.  For the convenience of established accounts and in accord with good business practices, the department provides a monthly billing service for established accounts.  Accounts not paid-in-full within thirty days of billing ((shall be)) are considered delinquent.

(2) All delinquent accounts ((shall be)) are assessed a late charge equal to one and one-half percent per month, or portion of a month, on the unpaid balance.

(3) Except for established accounts where there is a reasonable expectation of additional charges during a calendar month, the minimum billable amount through the monthly billing system ((shall be)) is twenty dollars.  All billable services of less than twenty dollars ((shall be)) are due and payable-in-full at the time that service is rendered.

(4) No person with an account ninety days or more in arrears ((shall)) will receive service except on the basis of payment in full at the time service is rendered.  Such accounts ((shall)) will not be restored to monthly billing status until all past due accounts are paid-in-full.  Such accounts may be subject to legal action for collection.

(5) Accounts that become ninety days or more in arrears twice within a five-year period may be subject to a permanent requirement ((to payment-in-full)) for payment in full at the time service is provided.

[Statutory Authority: [Chapter 15.13 RCW].  92-24-067 (Order 4016), § 16-401-019, filed 12/1/92, effective 1/1/93.]

(1) Any plant material at a location licensed as a nursery dealer under chapter 15.13 RCW ((shall be)) is subject to regulatory inspections.  A nursery inspection ((certificate shall)) report will be issued, without additional charge except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, stating the results of the inspection.

(2) A fee may be charged for repeated, subsequent inspections of license locations where plant material does not meet the requirements set forth in chapter 15.13 RCW: Provided, That the license location ((shall be)) is subject to no more than two paid inspections each license period.  Fees ((shall be)) are assessed on the basis of the time required for the inspection at the applicable hourly rate provided in WAC 16-401-025.

[Statutory Authority: [Chapter 15.13 RCW].  92-24-067 (Order 4016), § 16-401-020, filed 12/1/92, effective 1/1/93.  Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.54 RCW.  87-19-098 (Order 1953), § 16-401-020, filed 9/17/87; Order 1315, § 16-401-020, filed 5/30/73; Order 1204, § 16-401-020, filed 5/28/71, effective 7/1/71; Order 1152, § 16-401-020, filed 5/28/70, effective 7/1/70.]

(1) Any plant material at a location licensed as a nursery dealer under chapter 15.13 RCW is subject to regulatory inspections. A nursery inspection report will be issued, without additional charge except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, stating the results of the inspection.

(2) A fee may be charged for repeated, subsequent inspections of license locations where plant material does not meet the requirements set forth in chapter 15.13 RCW: Provided, That the license location is subject to no more than two paid inspections each license period. Fees are assessed on the basis of the time required for the inspection at the applicable hourly rate provided in WAC 16-401-026.

[]

(1) Requested services ((shall be)) are provided at ((an)) the applicable hourly rate ((and an overtime rate)).  The ((overtime)) nonbusiness hourly rate ((shall apply)) applies for service provided before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. during the work day and for all services provided on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday listed in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) Holidays ((shall)) mean New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day immediately following Thanksgiving Day, Veteran's Day, Christmas Day, President's Day, and Martin Luther King's Birthday.

(3) The ((minimum)) hourly charge is assessed ((shall be one hour.  Additional charges shall be)) in one-half hour increments ((prospectively)).

(4) Persons requesting service with less than twenty-four hours notice ((on a weekend or holiday, or before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m.,)) during nonbusiness hours may be subject to a ((call back)) charge of two additional hours at the ((overtime)) nonbusiness hourly rate, ((in addition to all other charges,)) if the department is ((actually)) required to pay call back to the employee(s) providing the requested service.

[Statutory Authority: [Chapter 15.13 RCW].  92-24-067 (Order 4016), § 16-401-023, filed 12/1/92, effective 1/1/93.]

The following rates for requested inspection services shall apply:

(1) Hourly rate((, per hour . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25.00

(2) Overtime rate, per hour . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 32.00

(3))) (a) Business hours . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 26.05

(b) Nonbusiness hours (see WAC 16-401-023) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 33.34

(2) Mileage at the established office of financial management rate (schedule A), per diem at actual cost, and travel time at the applicable hourly rate may be assessed for requested inspections that are not a part of a regular work schedule.  Such charge may be pro-rated among applicants if more than one applicant is provided service during a work day or trip when mileage and/or per diem are applicable.

(((4))) (3) Inspections for phytosanitary certification, including growing season field inspections, ((shall be)) are provided at the applicable hourly rate provided in subsection (1) of this section except where an alternate certification inspection fee is provided in statute, in rule, or by a written agreement between the department and an industry ((organization)) entity, university, or public agency.  When growing season field inspections for phytosanitary certification and regulatory inspections are performed simultaneously, the first two hours of inspection each calendar year for nurseries licensed under WAC 16-401-040 (1)(b) or (2)(a); and the first four hours of inspection per calendar year for nurseries licensed under WAC 16-401-040 (1)(c) or (2)(b), ((shall be)) are without charge.

(a) There ((shall be)) is no additional charge for the first phytosanitary certificate issued at the time of the inspection.

(b) Phytosanitary certificates issued more than twenty-four hours from the time of the inspection, first certificate

. . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((12.00)) 12.50

(c) Additional phytosanitary certificates

. . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((4.00)) 4.10 ea.

(((5))) (4) Inspection and certification of nonplant material or equipment for sanitation (freedom from soil or pests) by visual examination or through witnessing a prescribed treatment (steam cleaning, hydro-washing, etc.) ((shall be performed)) is charged at the applicable hourly rate.

(a) ((All certificates must be issued at the time of inspection.

(b) For the first certificate,)) There is no additional charge for the first certificate.

(((c))) (b) Additional certificates

. . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((4.00)) 4.10 ea.

(((6))) (5) Inspections for garden brown snail certification or other miscellaneous inspection certification ((shall be)) are charged at the applicable hourly rate.

(a) For the first certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . no additional charge

(b) For additional certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((4.00)) 4.10 ea.

(((7))) (6) Witnessing and certification of fumigation ((shall be)) is charged at the applicable hourly rate, plus a per lot or container fee of . . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((10.00)) 10.42

(((8))) (7) For a certificate of plant health for noncommercial movement of plant materials between states by unlicensed persons, up to a maximum of five plants, and provided that the plants are brought to a plant services office for inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((5.00)) 5.21

Note:

When two or more types of inspection, provided in this section, are performed simultaneously, only one hourly rate, per WAC 16-401-025((, shall be applied)) applies.  One certificate for one service ((shall be)) is issued at no charge.  Additional certificates ((will be)) are issued at the $((4.00)) 4.10 rate.

[Statutory Authority: [Chapter 15.13 RCW].  92-24-067 (Order 4016), § 16-401-025, filed 12/1/92, effective 1/1/93.  Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.54 RCW.  87-19-098 (Order 1953), § 16-401-025, filed 9/17/87.  Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.13 RCW.  79-04-025 (Order 1628), § 16-401-025, filed 3/21/79; Order 1315, § 16-401-025, filed 5/30/73; Order 1152, § 16-401-025, filed 5/28/70, effective 7/1/70.]

The following rates apply for requested inspection services:

(1) Hourly rate

(a) Business hours . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 26.90

(b) Nonbusiness hours (see WAC 16-401-023) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 34.40

(2) Mileage at the established office of financial management rate (schedule A), per diem at actual cost, and travel time at the applicable hourly rate may be assessed for requested inspections that are not a part of a regular work schedule. Such charge may be prorated among applicants if more than one applicant is provided service during a work day or trip when mileage and/or per diem are applicable.

(3) Inspections for phytosanitary certification, including growing season field inspections, are provided at the applicable hourly rate provided in subsection (1) of this section except where an alternate certification inspection fee is provided in statute, in rule, or by a written agreement between the department and an industry entity, university, or public agency. When growing season field inspections for phytosanitary certification and regulatory inspections are performed simultaneously, the first two hours of inspection each calendar year for nurseries licensed under WAC 16-401-041 (1)(b) or (2)(a); and the first four hours of inspection per calendar year for nurseries licensed under WAC 16-401-041 (1)(c) or (2)(b), are without charge.

(a) There is no additional charge for the first phytosanitary certificate issued at the time of the inspection.

(b) Phytosanitary certificates issued more than twenty-four hours from the time of the inspection, first certificate

. . . . . . . . . . . . $ 12.90

(c) Additional phytosanitary certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4.20 ea.

(4) Inspection and certification of nonplant material or equipment for sanitation (freedom from soil or pests) by visual examination or through witnessing a prescribed treatment (steam cleaning, hydro-washing, etc.) is charged at the applicable hourly rate.

(a) There is no additional charge for the first certificate.

(b) Additional certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4.20 ea.

(5) Inspections for garden brown snail certification or other miscellaneous inspection certification are charged at the applicable hourly rate.

(a) For the first certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . no charge

(b) For additional certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4.20 ea.

(6) Witnessing and certification of fumigation is charged at the applicable hourly rate, plus a per lot or container fee of

. . . . . . . . . . . . $ 10.75

(7) For a certificate of plant health for noncommercial movement of plant materials between states by unlicensed persons, up to a maximum of five plants, and provided that the plants are brought to a plant services office for inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5.35

Note:

When two or more types of inspection, provided in this section, are performed simultaneously, only one hourly rate, per WAC 16-401-026, applies. One certificate for one service is issued at no charge. Additional certificates are issued at the $4.20 rate.

[]

The following rates for miscellaneous charges on requested inspections ((shall)) apply.

(1) Postage, special handling services and other miscellaneous costs ((shall be)) exceeding five dollars are charged ((back)) at the actual cost.

(2) ((Fee for special handling service (i.e., federal express, air parcel post or air freight) . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.50

(3) Fee for facsimile transmission of documents, per

document . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.50

(4) Additional copies of certificates, per copy$ .20

(5))) Other requested office services, not specifically provided((, shall be)) for, are charged a fee based on the portion of an hour at the applicable hourly rate in WAC 16-401-025 ((necessary to perform the service)).

(((6))) (3) Nursery stickers and nursery stock inspection((:))--certificate tags:

(a) In lots of 250 . . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((5.00)) 5.21 per lot

(b) Less than 250 (minimum 10) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((.25)) .26 each

(((7))) (4) Authorization by the department to preprint Washington nursery stock inspection certificates on shipping containers, yearly authorization fee or renewal

. . . . . . . . . . . . $ ((25.00)) 26.05

[Statutory Authority: [Chapter 15.13 RCW].  92-24-067 (Order 4016), § 16-401-030, filed 12/1/92, effective 1/1/93.  Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.54 RCW.  87-19-098 (Order 1953), § 16-401-030, filed 9/17/87.  Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.13 RCW.  79-04-025 (Order 1628), § 16-401-030, filed 3/21/79; Order 1315, § 16-401-030, filed 5/30/73; Order 1152, § 16-401-030, filed 5/28/70, effective 7/1/70.]

The following rates for miscellaneous charges on requested inspections shall apply.

(1) Postage, special handling services and other miscellaneous costs exceeding five dollars are charged at the actual cost.

(2) Other requested office services, not specifically provided for, are charged a fee based on the portion of an hour at the applicable hourly rate in WAC 16-401-026.

(3) Nursery stickers and nursery stock inspection certificate tags:

(a) In lots of 250 . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5.35 per lot

(b) Less than 250 (minimum 10) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0.26 each

(4) Authorization by the department to preprint Washington nursery stock inspection certificates on shipping containers, yearly authorization fee or renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 26.90

[]

((As provided in chapter 15.13 RCW, the director of agriculture hereby establishes the following schedule of)) Annual license fees ((which shall)), as established below, must accompany ((the)) an application for nursery dealer license((:))

(1) Retail nursery dealer license fee:

(a) ((For)) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf less than two thousand five hundred dollars((, the license fee shall be thirty-five dollars.)) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 36.46

(b) ((For)) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf between two thousand five hundred dollars and fifteen thousand dollars((, the license fee shall be seventy-five dollars.))

. . . . . . . . . . . . $ 78.14

(c) ((For)) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf of fifteen thousand dollars or more((, the license fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars.)) . . . . . . . . . . . . $156.30

(((d) Retail nursery dealer license fee increases shall become effective January 1, 1993.))

(2) Wholesale nursery dealer license fee:

(a) ((For)) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf less than fifteen thousand dollars((, the license fee shall be seventy-five dollars.)) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 78.14

(b) ((For)) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf of fifteen thousand dollars or more((, the license fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars.)) . . . . . . . . . . . . $156.30

(((c) Wholesale nursery dealer license fee increases shall become effective January 1, 1993.))

(3) As provided in RCW ((15.13.280 there is hereby established)) 15.13.285, a surcharge of twenty percent of the base rate, in addition to the fees established on all classes of licenses in subsections (1) and (2) of this section ((to be used solely to support research projects recommended by the nursery advisory committee and of general benefit to the nursery industry)) , is established.

(4) Permit fee for those types of sales and organizations exempted from licensing requirements by RCW 15.13.270, per permit

. . . . . . . . . . . . $((5.00)) 5.21

[Statutory Authority: [Chapter 15.13 RCW].  92-24-067 (Order 4016), § 16-401-040, filed 12/1/92, effective 1/1/93; 92-13-034 (Order 2094), § 16-401-040, filed 6/10/92, effective 7/1/92.  Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.54 RCW.  87-19-098 (Order 1953), § 16-401-040, filed 9/17/87.]

Annual license fees as established below, must accompany the application for nursery dealer license:

(1) Retail nursery dealer license fee:

(a) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf less than two thousand five hundred dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 37.67

(b) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf between two thousand five hundred dollars and fifteen thousand dollars, the license fee is . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 80.72

(c) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf of fifteen thousand dollars or more . . . . . . . . . . . . $161.45

(2) Wholesale nursery dealer license fee:

(a) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf less than fifteen thousand dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 80.72

(b) Gross business sales of horticultural plants and turf of fifteen thousand dollars or more . . . . . . . . . . . . $161.45

(3) As provided in RCW 15.13.285, a surcharge of twenty percent of the base rate, in addition to the fees established on all classes of licenses in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, is established.

(4) Permit fee for those types of sales and organizations exempted from licensing requirements by RCW 15.13.270, per permit

. . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5.35

[]

As provided in RCW 15.13.310, ((the director of agriculture hereby establishes)) an annual assessment of one percent on the gross sale price of the wholesale market value for all fruit trees, fruit tree related ornamental trees, fruit tree seedlings, fruit tree rootstock, and all other rootstock used for fruit tree propagation produced in Washington, and sold within the state or shipped from the state by any licensed nursery dealer, is established.

[Statutory Authority: [Chapter 15.13 RCW].  92-24-067 (Order 4016), § 16-401-050, filed 12/1/92, effective 1/1/93.  Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.54 RCW.  87-19-098 (Order 1953), § 16-401-050, filed 9/17/87.]

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