SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2138

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 28, 1994

Brief Description:  Eliminating Washington State University's rodent control responsibilities.

SPONSORS: Representatives Rayburn, Roland, Sheahan, Schoesler and Hansen; by request of Washington State University

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators M. Rasmussen, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Morton, Newhouse and Snyder.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Hearing Dates: February 17, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Washington State University (WSU), through the cooperative extension service, has been required since 1921 to administer a program for destroying ground squirrels, pocket gophers, rabbits, and any other rodent it may designate as being injurious to the agricultural interests of the state.

Under present law which is being proposed for repeal, WSU may notify landowners of their obligation to exterminate rodents and, if the rodents are not exterminated in a timely manner, may enter the land and exterminate the rodents at the cost of the landowner.  If such an extermination expense is not otherwise paid by the landowner, the Board of County Commissioners must tax the land to recover those costs. 

The program is no longer necessary and with funding reductions at the university, the statute is one of those that can be repealed to remove legal requirements the Legislature no longer needs to require.

SUMMARY:

State laws are repealed which direct WSU to administer a rodent inspection and extermination program.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This eliminates an unnecessary program which the university has not done in 30 years.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Larry Ganders, Washington State University