S-1383.1          _______________________________________________

                         SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8404

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senator Barr.

Read first time February 22, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Water Resources.Creating the joint select committee on agricultural policy.

     WHEREAS, Public policy encourages the lawful actions of individuals; and

     WHEREAS, Washington State University is the exclusive source of instruction about agriculture; and

     WHEREAS, The department of agriculture is the agency of government primarily concerned with assuring that the state agriculture policy is clearly expressed; and

     WHEREAS, The cooperatives commercializing agricultural products are authorized by law so that the value derived by patrons is protected by public policy; and

     WHEREAS, Washington State University has continuously provided instruction about the lawful use of cooperatives; and

     WHEREAS, The Department of Agriculture supervised the affairs of agricultural cooperatives for over sixty years pursuant to state policy; and

     WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes a need to dispel inconsistencies in policy in accord with the desires of the people in ordinary economic pursuits conducted under the law;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on agricultural policy be established to study the relation of Washington State University, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and cooperatives in commerce in agricultural goods incorporated under chapter 23.86 RCW in order to determine if further legislative action is advisable to clarify the policy of the state on agriculture by reporting the relative urgency of any measures that might be taken regarding the relation of Washington State University, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and cooperatives in order to protect and foster the value of agricultural commerce under the law; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consist of nine members, two of which shall be members of the senate committee on agriculture and water resources, representing the majority and minority, appointed by the president of the senate; two of which shall be members of the house of representatives committee on agriculture and rural development, representing the majority and minority, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one member selected by Washington State University; one member selected by the director of the Department of Agriculture; and three members selected by cooperatives incorporated under chapter 23.86 RCW, or eligible to be so incorporated, and that are active in agricultural commerce, whether for patrons who are producers or consumers of goods or services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and recommendations to the legislature at the regular session held in 1992.