WSR 18-13-089
PROPOSED RULES
HARDWOODS COMMISSION
[Filed June 18, 2018, 1:16 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 18-10-020.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 244-12-050 Assessments and collections.
Hearing Location(s): On July 25, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at 225 S.E. Lechner Street, Camas, WA.
Date of Intended Adoption: July 25, 2018.
Submit Written Comments to: David Sweitzer, P.O. Box 1095, email whc@wahardwoodscomm.com, fax 360-835-1910, by July 23, 2018.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact David Sweitzer, phone 360-835-1600, fax 360-835-1910, email whc@wahardwoodscomm.com, by July 23, 2018.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Change the assessment fee schedule to adjust for inflation and continue to sustain the commission and its purpose.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Maintain operation of the commission to affect greater hardwood harvest which supports the infrastructure and rural economy.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 15.74 RCW.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 15.74 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Washington hardwoods commission, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: David Sweitzer, 225 S.E. Lechner Street, Camas, WA, 360-835-1700.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328.
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rule content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.
June 18, 2018
David A. Sweitzer
Executive Director
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 91-14-055, filed 6/27/91, effective 7/1/91)
WAC 244-12-050Assessments and collections.
(1) ((The assessment shall be based upon the following schedule:
quarterly production
category
(thousand tons)
quarterly
assessment
1
5
to
7.5
$150
 
2
7.5
to
15
$300
 
3
15
to
25
$600
 
4
25
to
35
$900
 
5
35
to
45
$1,200
 
6
45
to
62.5
$1,500
 
7
62.5
to
82.5
$2,250
 
8
82.5
to
125
$3,000
 
9
125
to
175
$4,500
 
10
175
to
250
$6,000
 
11
250
to
350
$9,000
 
12
350
to
450
$12,000
 
13
450
to
625
$15,000
 
14
625
to
875
$22,500
 
15
875
to
1125
$30,000
 
16
over
1125
$35,000))
 
To provide for permanent funding of the Washington hardwoods commission, agricultural commodity assessments shall be levied by the commission on processors of hardwoods.
An assessment is hereby levied on hardwood processors operating within the state of Washington. The assessment shall be based on the hardwood processor's production per calendar quarter. The assessment shall be four cents per ton produced effective July 1, 2018.
Beginning July 1, 2019, and every July 1st thereafter, the assessment must be adjusted to reflect the percentage change in the implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures for the United States as published for the most recent twelve-month period by the bureau of economic analysis of the federal Department of Commerce by September 25th of the year before the assessments are payable.
(2) For purposes of determining the ((appropriate production category)) assessment, the following ((equivalents will)) definitions apply:
(a) One ton of logs, scaled by weight, input for a processor equals one ton of production; or
(b) One thousand board feet, Scribner scale, input for a processor equals 7.25 tons of production.
(3) Processors who produce less than ((five)) one thousand tons of hardwood products or ship less than one thousand tons of logs out of the state of Washington in a calendar quarter will not be assessed. However, they still must submit a quarterly report.
(4) Assessments shall be paid to the commission according to the levy schedule in subsection (1) of this section.