FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   ESB 6027

                                   C 23 L 92

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Funding horticultural nursery research.

SPONSORS:Senators Barr, Gaspard, Sellar, Bauer, Conner, Rasmussen, Bailey and Jesernig.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

BACKGROUND:

Research for the benefit of the horticultural nursery industry is currently conducted by Washington State University and is funded by general fund monies.  At present, there is no mechanism in place to allow the horticultural nursery industry to collect funds from itself to augment research activities.

SUMMARY:

The Director of Agriculture, with advice from an advisory committee, may establish a surcharge of up to 20 percent onto the nursery dealer license fee.  The surcharge will range between $5 and $20 per year depending upon the annual gross dollar volume of business of the nursery dealer.  The revenue collected from the surcharge is to be deposited in the agricultural local fund, which will be used solely to support research projects that are a general benefit to the horticultural nursery industry and that are recommended by an advisory committee.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      47    1

House 96    0

EFFECTIVE:  July 1, 1992