SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   EHB 2316

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES,

                               FEBRUARY 20, 1992

Brief Description:  Removing the sunset termination process from IMPACT.

SPONSORS: Representatives Rayburn, Grant, R. Johnson, Jacobsen, Lisk, Nealey, Kremen, Roland, J. Kohl, Ogden, Haugen, Silver, McLean and Rasmussen

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Barr, Chairman; Bailey, Conner, Gaspard, Hansen, and Newhouse.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786‑7404)

Hearing Dates: February 20, 1992

BACKGROUND:

The International Marketing Program for Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT) at Washington State University was created by statute.  It was created to identify international marketing problems and opportunities.  IMPACT provides related instruction, with an emphasis on practical solutions to problems.

The Legislature created the program on a provisional basis in 1984 and gave it "permanent" status in 1985.  The bill granting it permanent status also placed the program on the list for review under the state's Sunset Act.  As a part of that process, the program was given a termination date of June 30, 1990.  In 1988, the termination date was extended to June 30, 1992.  Absent legislative action, the IMPACT program and center will terminate on that date.

Under the Sunset Act, programs placed on the sunset list are reviewed by the Legislative Budget Committee (LBC).  In its final sunset report on IMPACT, the LBC made four recommendations:  (1) IMPACT should publish a fee schedule for its services as mandated; (2) legislation should be initiated to reestablish the IMPACT program at Washington State University; (3) the Legislature should consider adding an inflation adjustment to IMPACT's funding; and (4) the Legislature should fully fund IMPACT at the original amount plus inflation adjustment for the second half of the 1991-93 biennium.

SUMMARY:

The IMPACT program and center at Washington State University (WSU) are removed from termination under the Sunset Act.

This bill is null and void unless specific funding for IMPACT is provided in the supplemental budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

The IMPACT program has been shown to be an effective way to expand markets for existing and new agricultural products.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Desmond O'Rourke, IMPACT Center (pro)