PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-303 WAC, Seed assessment, fees for seed services and seed certification.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 15.49 RCW, Seeds; chapter 34.05 RCW, Administrative Procedure Act; 3ESHB 2127, chapter 7, Laws of 2012 2nd sp. sess. PV.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This review will ensure that the fees being charged for services provided by the seed program are in correlation to the amount of time needed to render that service and ensure cost recovery for the program. This review will result in fees being increased in such a way as to ensure that revenues collected by the program are sufficient to ensure financial solvency of the seed program.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The Washington department of agriculture (WSDA) staff will develop the specific rule proposal in consultation with a special committee made up of members of the seed industry. This committee will be structured such that the various seed program user groups are represented. In addition the seed program advisory committee will be kept informed of this proposal. Interested parties can participate in the public hearing/public comment process, the dates of which will be announced when the department files the rule proposal with the code reviser.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Victor Shaul, Program Manager, WSDA, Seed Program, 21 North 1st Avenue, Suite 203, Yakima, WA 98902, (509) 249-6950, e-mail Vshaul@agr.wa.gov.
May 23, 2012
Brad J. Avy
Assistant Director