HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2877

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Agriculture & Ecology

Title:  An act relating to integrated pest management.

Brief Description:  Requiring integrated pest management.

Sponsors:  Representatives Koster, Chappell, McMorris, Linville, Chandler, Lisk, Clements, Johnson, Sheldon, Schoesler and Mulliken.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/2/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Koster, Vice Chairman; Chappell, Ranking Minority Member; Linville, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Clements; Delvin; R. Fisher; Honeyford; Johnson; Mastin; Murray; Ogden; Regala; Robertson; Rust and Schoesler.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:  The Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources was created by statute at Washington State University.  State law directs that among the center's primary activities are research programs which focus on developing possible alternative production and marketing systems through integrated pest management.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Each of the following must implement integrated pest management practices when carrying out their duties related to pest control:  the departments of Agriculture, Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, Transportation, Natural Resources, Corrections, and General Administration; the Parks and Recreation Commission; the State Noxious Weed Control Board; and each state institution of higher education (for the institution's own building and grounds maintenance).  Such practices must be implemented within one year of the effective date of this bill.  Each must provide integrated pest management training for employees responsible for pest management and designate an integrated pest management coordinator to manage the program. 

An Interagency Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee (IIPMC) is created. The committee is composed of the integrated pest management coordinators of the agencies and institutions.  The coordinator from the Department of Agriculture serves as the chair of the committee.  Coordinators must report annually to the committee regarding the pest management programs of their agencies.

The IIPMC Committee must advise the state agencies and institutions, and facilitate interagency coordination for each state agency's or institution's integrated pest management program.  The committee must review the pest management programs of the entities represented on the committee.  It must meet four times a year, following public notice.  All meetings of the committee must be open to the public. 

The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the IIPMC Committee, must submit reports to the Legislature biennially regarding the integrated pest management programs.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill adds the Department of Ecology and the State Noxious Weed Control Board to the coordinating committee and to the list of agencies that must implement pest management programs; alters the information that must be submitted by coordinators to the coordinating committee; and transfers to the Department of Agriculture, from the coordinating committee, the duty of reporting to the Legislature.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  (1) The bill provides for better stewardship of state land.  (2) The bill will provide for the control of weeds as well as other pests.  Integrated pest management was the preferred alternative identified in a recent environmental impact statement developed by the Department of Transportation regarding its roadside management.  (3) Agencies are already doing this; the bill will shine a spotlight on the activity and accelerate it.  (4) This policy should apply to other lands as well.

Testimony Against:  Elk and deer could be considered to be crop pests under the bill.

Testified:  Enid Layes and Duncan Wurm, Washington Friends of Farms and Forests; Ted Alby; Robert Berger; Larry Rust, Department of Transportation; and Stan Biles, Department of Natural Resources (in favor).  Cyreis Schmitt, Department of Fish and Wildlife (commented on the bill).