SENATE BILL REPORT

                           2ESB 5983

                 AS PASSED SENATE, MAY 5, 1993

Brief Description:  Altering fees related to agriculture.

SPONSORS: Senators M. Rasmussen and Loveland; by request of Department of Agriculture

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chairman; Spanel, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Gaspard, Hargrove, Jesernig, Owen, Pelz, Quigley, Snyder, Sutherland, Talmadge, Williams, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Michael Groesch (786‑7715)

Hearing Dates: April 14, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The 1993-93 budget for the Washington State Department of Agriculture is approximately $70 million and 723 FTEs.  Of that amount, $19.7 million and 146 FTEs are state general fund supported.

The department's Administrative Services Program provides budgeting, accounting, personnel, policy and management services for the entire agency.  Ninety-four percent of the funding the Administrative Services Program is supported by the state general fund and 6 percent is supported by federal revenues.

Budgets proposed by Governor Gardner, Governor Lowry, the Senate and the House of Representatives have all proposed shifts in funding the department's administrative program which involve greater support from the non-appropriated funds managed by the department.  Fees which support those non-appropriated funds are established in statute.

SUMMARY:

Various adjustments are made to fees collected by the Department of Agriculture in order to provide the additional revenue necessary to support a portion of the administrative functions of the agency.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  yes

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill is necessary to implement the assumptions of the proposed budget.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  John King, Department of Agriculture