5315-s.sl

AN ACT Relating to agriculture and marketing; amending RCW 15.36.012, 15.36.071, 15.36.171, 15.36.221, 15.36.411, 15.36.441, 69.07.100, 69.07.085, 69.25.020, 69.25.050, 69.25.150, 69.25.170, 69.25.250, 69.25.310, 69.25.320, 15.53.901, 15.53.9012, 15.53.9014, 15.53.9016, 15.53.9018, 15.53.902, 15.53.9022, 15.53.9024, 15.53.9038, 15.53.9042, 15.53.9053, 16.57.220, 16.57.230, 16.57.240, 16.57.280, 16.57.290, 16.65.030, 15.44.033, 43.88.240, 15.58.070, 16.24.130, 16.24.150, 15.76.140, and 17.10.240; reenacting and amending RCW 69.07.040 and 16.57.220; reenacting RCW 15.36.431; adding a new section to chapter 69.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 15.53 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 16.65 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 43.23 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 15.58 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 17.10 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 69 RCW; creating new sections; decodifying RCW 15.53.905 and 15.53.9052; repealing RCW 69.08.010, 69.08.020, 69.08.030, 69.08.040, 69.08.045, 69.08.050, 69.08.060, 69.08.070, 69.08.080, 69.08.090, 69.25.330, 69.25.340, 15.53.9036, and 15.58.410; repealing 1994 c 46 s 21; prescribing penalties; making appropriations; providing effective dates; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 15.36.012 and 1994 c 143 s 102 are each amended to read as follows:

For the purpose of this chapter:

"Adulterated milk" means milk that is deemed adulterated under appendix L of the PMO.

"Aseptic processing" means the process by which milk or milk products have been subjected to sufficient heat processing and packaged in a hermetically sealed container so as to meet the standards of the PMO.

"Colostrum milk" means milk produced within ten days before or until practically colostrum free after parturition.

"DMO" means supplement I, the recommended sanitation ordinance for grade A condensed and dry milk products and condensed and dry whey, to the PMO published by the United States public health service, food and drug administration.

"Dairy farm" means a place or premises where one or more cows, goats, or other mammals are kept, a part or all of the milk or milk products from which is sold or offered for sale to a milk processing plant, transfer station, or receiving station.

"Dairy technician" means any person who takes samples of milk or cream or fluid derivatives thereof, on which sample tests are to be made as a basis of payment, or who grades, weighs, or measures milk or cream or the fluid derivatives thereof, the grade, weight, or measure to be used as a basis of payment, or who operates equipment wherein milk or products thereof are pasteurized.

"Department" means the state department of agriculture.

"Director" means the director of agriculture of the state of Washington or the director's duly authorized representative.

"Distributor" means a person other than a producer who offers for sale or sells to another, milk or milk products.

"Grade A milk processing plant" means any milk processing plant that meets all of the standards of the PMO to process grade A pasteurized milk or milk products.

"Grade A pasteurized milk" means grade A raw milk that has been pasteurized.

"Grade A raw milk" means raw milk produced upon dairy farms conforming with all of the items of sanitation contained in the PMO, in which the bacterial plate count does not exceed twenty thousand per milliliter and the coliform count does not exceed ten per milliliter as determined in accordance with RCW ((~~15.36.110~~)) 15.36.201.

"Grade A raw milk for pasteurization" means raw milk produced upon dairy farms conforming with all of the same items of sanitation contained in the PMO of grade A raw milk, and the bacterial plate count, as delivered from the farm, does not exceed eighty thousand per milliliter as determined in accordance with RCW ((~~15.36.110~~)) 15.36.201.

"Grade C milk" is milk that violates any of the requirements for grade A milk but that is not deemed to be adulterated.

"Homogenized" means milk or milk products which have been treated to ensure breakup of the fat globules to an extent consistent with the requirements outlined in the PMO.

"Milk" means the lacteal secretion, practically free of colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows, goats, or other mammals.

"Milk hauler" means a person who transports milk or milk products in bulk to or from a milk processing plant, receiving station, or transfer station.

"Milk processing" means the handling, preparing, packaging, or processing of milk in any manner in preparation for sale as food, as defined in chapter 69.04 RCW. Milk processing does not include milking or producing milk on a dairy farm that is shipped to a milk processing plant for further processing.

"Milk processing plant" means a place, premises, or establishment where milk or milk products are collected, handled, processed, stored, bottled, pasteurized, aseptically processed, bottled, or prepared for distribution, except an establishment ((~~whose activity is limited to retail sales~~)) that merely receives the processed milk products and serves them or sells them at retail.

"Milk products" means the product of a milk manufacturing process.

"Misbranded milk" means milk or milk products that carries a grade label unless such grade label has been awarded by the director and not revoked, or that fails to conform in any other respect with the statements on the label.

"Official brucellosis adult vaccinated cattle" means those cattle, officially vaccinated over the age of official calfhood vaccinated cattle, that the director has determined have been commingled with, or kept in close proximity to, cattle identified as brucellosis reactors, and have been vaccinated against brucellosis in a manner and under the conditions prescribed by the director after a hearing and under rules adopted under chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act.

"Official laboratory" means a biological, chemical, or physical laboratory that is under the direct supervision of the state or a local regulatory agency.

"Officially designated laboratory" means a commercial laboratory authorized to do official work by the department, or a milk industry laboratory officially designated by the department for the examination of grade A raw milk for pasteurization and commingled milk tank truck samples of raw milk for antibiotic residues and bacterial limits.

"PMO" means the grade "A" pasteurized milk ordinance published by the United States public health service, food and drug administration.

"Pasteurized" means the process of heating every particle of milk or milk product in properly designed and operated equipment to the temperature and time standards specified in the PMO.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, company, trustee, or association.

"Producer" means a person or organization who operates a dairy farm and provides, sells, or offers milk for sale to a milk processing plant, receiving station, or transfer station.

"Receiving station" means a place, premises, or establishment where raw milk is received, collected, handled, stored, or cooled and prepared for further transporting.

"Sale" means selling, offering for sale, holding for sale, preparing for sale, trading, bartering, offering a gift as an inducement for sale of, and advertising for sale in any media.

"Transfer station" means any place, premises, or establishment where milk or milk products are transferred directly from one milk tank truck to another.

"Ultrapasteurized" means the process by which milk or milk products have been thermally processed in accordance with the time and temperature standards of the PMO, so as to produce a product which has an extended shelf life under refrigerated conditions.

"Ungraded processing plant" means a milk processing plant that meets all of the standards of the PMO to produce milk products other than grade A milk or milk products.

"Wash station" means a place, facility, or establishment where milk tanker trucks are cleaned in accordance with the standards of the PMO.

All dairy products mentioned in this chapter mean those fit or used for human consumption.

Sec. 2. RCW 15.36.071 and 1994 c 143 s 205 are each amended to read as follows:

A milk hauler must obtain a milk hauler's license to conduct the operation under this chapter. A milk hauler's license is not transferable with respect to persons or locations or both. The license, issued by the director upon approval of an application for the license and compliance with the provisions of this chapter, shall contain the license number, name, residence, and place of business, if any, of the licensee. A milk hauler's license shall also contain endorsements for individual milk transport vehicles. The license plate number and registration number for each milk transport vehicle shall be listed on the endorsement.

Sec. 3. RCW 15.36.171 and 1994 c 143 s 301 are each amended to read as follows:

No milk or milk products shall be sold to the final consumer or to restaurants, soda fountains, grocery stores, or similar establishments except grade A pasteurized milk, or grade A raw milk. The director may revoke the license of any milk distributor ((~~failing~~)), milk processing plant, or producer whose product fails to qualify as grade A pasteurized or grade A raw, or in lieu thereof may degrade his or her product to grade C and permit its sale as other than fluid milk or grade A milk products during a period not exceeding thirty days. In the event of an emergency, the director may permit the sale of grade C milk for more than thirty days.

Sec. 4. RCW 15.36.221 and 1984 c 226 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

Milk and milk products for consumption in the raw state or for pasteurization shall be cooled within two hours of completion of milking to forty degrees Fahrenheit or less and maintained at that temperature until picked up, in accordance with RCW ((~~15.36.110~~)) 15.36.201, so long as the blend temperature after the first and following milkings does not exceed fifty degrees Fahrenheit.

Sec. 5. RCW 15.36.411 and 1994 c 143 s 502 are each amended to read as follows:

The director may, subsequent to a hearing on the license, suspend or revoke a license issued under this chapter if the director determines that an applicant has committed any of the following acts:

(1) Refused, neglected, or failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the rules adopted under this chapter, or a lawful order of the director.

(2) Refused, neglected, or failed to keep and maintain records required by this chapter, or to make the records available if requested under the provisions of this chapter.

(3) Refused the department access to a portion or area of a facility regulated under this chapter, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

(4) Refused the department access to records required to be kept under the provisions of this chapter.

(5) Refused, neglected, or failed to comply with the applicable provisions of chapter 69.04 RCW, Washington food, drug, and cosmetic act, or rules adopted under chapter 69.04 RCW.

The provisions of this section requiring that a hearing be conducted before an action may be taken against a license do not apply to an action taken under RCW 15.36.111, 15.36.201, or 15.36.421.

Whenever a milk transport vehicle is found in violation of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter, the endorsement for that milk transport vehicle contained on a milk hauler's license shall be suspended or revoked. The suspension or revocation does not apply to any other milk transport vehicle operated by the milk hauler.

Sec. 6. RCW 15.36.431 and 1994 c 143 s 504 are each reenacted to read as follows:

No person shall employ a tester, sampler, weigher, grader, or pasteurizer who is not licensed as a dairy technician.

A person who violates the provisions of this section may be fined not less than two hundred fifty nor more than one thousand dollars, and his or her license issued under this chapter revoked or suspended subject to a hearing as provided under chapter 34.05 RCW.

Sec. 7. RCW 15.36.441 and 1994 c 143 s 505 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) If the results of an antibiotic, pesticide, or other drug residue test under RCW ((~~15.36.110~~)) 15.36.201 are above the actionable level established in the PMO and determined using procedures set forth in the PMO, a person holding a milk producer's license is subject to a civil penalty. The penalty shall be in an amount equal to one-half the value of the sum of the volumes of milk equivalent produced under the license on the day prior to and the day of the adulteration. The value of the milk shall be computed by the weighted average price for the federal market order under which the milk is delivered.

(2) The penalty is imposed by the department giving a written notice which is either personally served upon or transmitted by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person incurring the penalty. The notice of the civil penalty shall be a final order of the department unless, within fifteen days after the notice is received, the person incurring the penalty appeals the penalty by filing a notice of appeal with the department. If a notice of appeal is filed in a timely manner, a hearing shall be conducted on behalf of the department by the office of administrative hearings in accordance with chapters 34.05 and 34.12 RCW. At the conclusion of the hearing, the department shall determine whether the penalty should be affirmed, and, if so, shall issue a final order setting forth the civil penalty assessed, if any. The order may be appealed to superior court in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW. Tests performed for antibiotic, pesticide, or other drug residues by an official laboratory or an officially designated laboratory of a milk sample drawn by a department official or a licensed dairy technician shall be admitted as prima facie evidence of the presence or absence of an antibiotic, pesticide, or other drug residue.

(3) Any penalty imposed under this section is due and payable upon the issuance of the final order by the department. The penalty shall be deducted by the violator's marketing organization from the violator's final payment for the month following the issuance of the final order. The department shall promptly notify the violator's marketing organization of any penalties contained in the final order.

(4) All penalties received or recovered from violations of this section shall be remitted monthly by the violator's marketing organization to the Washington state dairy products commission and deposited in a revolving fund to be used solely for the purposes of education and research. No appropriation is required for disbursements from this fund.

(5) In case of a violation of the antibiotic, pesticide, or other drug residue test requirements, an investigation shall be made to determine the cause of the residue which shall be corrected. Follow-up sampling and testing must be done in accordance with the requirements of the PMO.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. For the purpose of this chapter:

(1) "Food storage warehouse" means any premises, establishment, building, room area, facility, or place, in whole or in part, where food is stored, kept, or held for wholesale distribution to other wholesalers or to retail outlets, restaurants, and any such other facility selling or distributing to the ultimate consumer. Food storage warehouses include, but are not limited to, facilities where food is kept or held refrigerated or frozen and include facilities where food is stored to the account of another firm and/or is owned by the food storage warehouse. "Food storage warehouse" does not include grain elevators or fruit and vegetable storage and packing houses that store, pack, and ship fresh fruit and vegetables even though they may use refrigerated or controlled atmosphere storage practices in their operation. However, this chapter applies to multiple food storage operations that also distribute or ripen fruits and vegetables.

(2) "Department" means the Washington department of agriculture.

(3) "Director" means the director of the Washington department of agriculture.

(4) "Food" means the same as defined in RCW 69.04.008.

(5) "Independent sanitation consultant" means an individual, partnership, cooperative, or corporation that by reason of education, certification, and experience has satisfactorily demonstrated expertise in food and dairy sanitation and is approved by the director to advise on such areas including, but not limited to: Principles of cleaning and sanitizing food processing plants and equipment; rodent, insect, bird, and other pest control; principals of hazard analysis critical control point; basic food product labeling; principles of proper food storage and protection; proper personnel work practices and attire; sanitary design, construction, and installation of food plant facilities, equipment, and utensils; and other pertinent food safety issues.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The director or his or her representative may inspect food storage warehouses for compliance with the provisions of chapter 69.04 RCW and the rules adopted under chapter 69.04 RCW as deemed necessary by the director. Any food storage warehouse found to not be in substantial compliance with chapter 69.04 RCW and the rules adopted under chapter 69.04 RCW will be reinspected as deemed necessary by the director to determine compliance. This does not preclude the director from using any other remedies as provided under chapter 69.04 RCW to gain compliance or to embargo products as provided under RCW 69.04.110 to protect the public from adulterated foods.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Except as provided in this section and section 11 of this act, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a food storage warehouse in the state without first having obtained an annual license from the department, which shall expire on a date set by rule by the director. Application for a license or license renewal shall be on a form prescribed by the director and accompanied by the license fee. The license fee is fifty dollars.

For a food storage warehouse that has been inspected on at least an annual basis for compliance with the provisions of the current good manufacturing practices (Title 21 C.F.R. part 110) by a federal agency or by a state agency acting on behalf of and under contract with a federal agency and that is not exempted from licensure by section 11 of this act, the annual license fee for the warehouse is twenty-five dollars.

The application shall include the full name of the applicant for the license and the location of the food storage warehouse he or she intends to operate. If such applicant is an individual, receiver, trustee, firm, partnership, association, or corporation, the full name of each member of the firm or partnership, or names of the officers of the association or corporation must be given on the application. The application shall further state the principal business address of the applicant in the state and elsewhere and the name of a person domiciled in this state authorized to receive and accept service of summons of legal notices of all kinds for the applicant. Upon the approval of the application by the director and compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including the applicable regulations adopted under this chapter by the department, the applicant shall be issued a license or renewal thereof. The director shall waive licensure under this chapter for firms that are licensed under the provisions of chapter 69.07 or 15.36 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A food storage warehouse that is inspected for compliance with the current good manufacturing practices (Title 21 C.F.R. part 110) on at least an annual basis by an independent sanitation consultant approved by the department shall be exempted from licensure under this chapter.

A report identifying the inspector and the inspecting entity, the date of the inspection, and any violations noted on such inspection shall be forwarded to the department by the food storage warehouse within sixty days of the completion of the inspection. An inspection shall be conducted and an inspection report for a food storage warehouse shall be filed with the department at least once every twelve months or the warehouse shall be licensed under this chapter and inspected by the department for a period of two years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. If the application for renewal of any license provided for under this chapter is not filed prior to the expiration date as established by rule by the director, an additional fee of ten percent of the cost of the license shall be assessed and added to the original fee and must be paid by the applicant before the renewal license is issued.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. The director may, subsequent to a hearing thereon, deny, suspend, or revoke any license provided for in this chapter if he or she determines that an applicant has committed any of the following acts:

(1) Refused, neglected, or failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the rules adopted under this chapter, or any lawful order of the director;

(2) Refused, neglected, or failed to keep and maintain records required by this chapter, or to make such records available if requested pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;

(3) Refused the department access to any portion or area of the food storage warehouse for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter;

(4) Refused the department access to any records required to be kept under the provisions of this chapter;

(5) Refused, neglected, or failed to comply with any provisions of chapter 69.04 RCW, Washington food, drug, and cosmetic act, or any rules adopted under chapter 69.04 RCW.

The provisions of this section requiring that a hearing be conducted before an action may be taken against a license do not apply to an action taken under section 14 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. (1) Whenever the director finds a food storage warehouse operating under conditions that constitute an immediate danger to public health or whenever the licensee or any employee of the licensee actively prevents the director or the director's representative, during an on-site inspection, from determining whether such a condition exists, the director may summarily suspend, pending a hearing, a license provided for in this chapter.

(2) Whenever a license is summarily suspended, the holder of the license shall be notified in writing that the license is, upon service of the notice, immediately suspended and that prompt opportunity for a hearing will be provided.

(3) Whenever a license is summarily suspended, food distribution operations shall immediately cease. However, the director may reinstate the license if the condition that caused the suspension has been abated to the director's satisfaction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale, or distribute in intrastate commerce food from or stored in a food storage warehouse that is required to be licensed under this chapter but that has not obtained a license, once notification by the director has been given to the persons selling, offering, or distributing food for sale, that the food is in or from such an unlicensed food storage warehouse.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. All moneys received by the department under provisions of this chapter, except moneys collected for civil penalties levied under this chapter, shall be paid into an account created in the agricultural local fund established in RCW 43.23.230 and shall be used solely to carry out provisions of this chapter and chapter 69.04 RCW. All moneys collected for civil penalties levied under this chapter shall be deposited in the state general fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the department may use all the civil remedies provided under chapter 69.04 RCW in carrying out and enforcing the provisions of this chapter.

(2) Civil penalties are intended to be used to obtain compliance and shall not be collected if a warehouse successfully completes a mutually agreed upon compliance agreement with the department. A warehouse that enters into a compliance agreement with the department shall pay only for inspections conducted by the department and any laboratory analyses as required by the inspections as outlined and agreed to in the compliance agreement. In no event shall the fee for these inspections and analyses exceed four hundred dollars per inspection or one thousand dollars in total.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. (1) The department shall enforce and carry out the provisions of this chapter and may adopt the necessary rules to carry out its purpose.

(2) The adoption of rules under the provisions of this chapter are subject to the applicable provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. The director or director's deputies, assistants, and inspectors are authorized to do all acts and things necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including the taking of verified statements. The department personnel are empowered to administer oaths of verification on the statement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. A new section is added to chapter 69.04 RCW to read as follows:

The director need not petition the superior court as provided for in RCW 69.04.120 if the owner or claimant of such food or food products agrees in writing to the disposition of such food or food products as the director may order.

Sec. 21. RCW 69.07.040 and 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 11 and 1993 c 212 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a food processing plant or process foods in the state without first having obtained an annual license from the department, which shall expire on a date set by rule by the director. License fees shall be prorated where necessary to accommodate staggering of expiration dates. Application for a license shall be on a form prescribed by the director and accompanied by the license fee. The license fee is determined by computing the gross annual sales for the accounting year immediately preceding the license year. If the license is for a new operator, the license fee shall be based on an estimated gross annual sales for the initial license period.

If gross annual sales are: The license fee is:

$0 to $50,000 $55.00

$50,001 to $500,000 $110.00

$500,001 to $1,000,000 $220.00

$1,000,001 to $5,000,000 $385.00

$5,000,001 to $10,000,000 $550.00

Greater than $10,000,000 $825.00

Such application shall include the full name of the applicant for the license and the location of the food processing plant he or she intends to operate. If such applicant is an individual, receiver, trustee, firm, partnership, association or corporation, the full name of each member of the firm or partnership, or names of the officers of the association or corporation shall be given on the application. Such application shall further state the principal business address of the applicant in the state and elsewhere and the name of a person domiciled in this state authorized to receive and accept service of summons of legal notices of all kinds for the applicant. The application shall also specify the type of food to be processed and the method or nature of processing operation or preservation of that food and any other necessary information. Upon the approval of the application by the director and compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including the applicable regulations adopted hereunder by the department, the applicant shall be issued a license or renewal thereof.

Licenses shall be issued to cover only those products, processes, and operations specified in the license application and approved for licensing. Wherever a license holder wishes to engage in processing a type of food product that is different than the type specified on the application supporting the licensee's existing license and processing that type of food product would require a major addition to or modification of the licensee's processing facilities or has a high potential for harm, the licensee shall submit an amendment to the current license application. In such a case, the licensee may engage in processing the new type of food product only after the amendment has been approved by the department.

If upon investigation by the director, it is determined that a person is processing food for retail sale and is not under permit, license, or inspection by a local health authority, then that person may be considered a food processor and subject to the provisions of this chapter. The director may waive the licensure requirements of this chapter for a person's operations at a facility if the person ((~~is licensed under chapter 15.32 RCW or has a permit~~)) has obtained a milk processing plant license under chapter 15.36 RCW to conduct the same or a similar operation at the facility.

Sec. 22. RCW 69.07.100 and 1988 c 5 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to establishments issued a permit or licensed under the provisions of:

(1) ((~~Chapter 15.32 RCW, the Dairies and dairy products act;~~

~~(2)~~)) Chapter 69.25 RCW, the Washington wholesome eggs and egg products act;

((~~(3)~~)) (2) Chapter 69.28 RCW, the Washington state honey act;

((~~(4)~~)) (3) Chapter 16.49 RCW, the Meat inspection act;

((~~(5)~~)) (4) Title 66 RCW, relating to alcoholic beverage control; and

((~~(6)~~)) (5) Chapter 69.30 RCW, the Sanitary control of shellfish act: PROVIDED, That if any such establishments process foods not specifically provided for in the above entitled acts, such establishments shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to restaurants or food service establishments.

Sec. 23. RCW 69.07.085 and 1988 c 254 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

The department may issue sanitary certificates to food processors under this chapter subject to such requirements as it may establish by rule. The fee for issuance shall be ((~~twenty~~)) fifty dollars per certificate. Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the agricultural local fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 24. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 69.08.010 and 1971 c 27 s 1 & 1945 c 192 s 1;

(2) RCW 69.08.020 and 1945 c 192 s 4;

(3) RCW 69.08.030 and 1985 c 25 s 1 & 1945 c 192 s 2;

(4) RCW 69.08.040 and 1985 c 25 s 2 & 1945 c 192 s 3;

(5) RCW 69.08.045 and 1988 c 5 s 5 & 1971 c 27 s 2;

(6) RCW 69.08.050 and 1945 c 192 s 5;

(7) RCW 69.08.060 and 1945 c 192 s 6;

(8) RCW 69.08.070 and 1945 c 192 s 7;

(9) RCW 69.08.080 and 1945 c 192 s 8; and

(10) RCW 69.08.090 and 1945 c 192 s 9.

Sec. 25. RCW 69.25.020 and 1982 c 182 s 42 are each amended to read as follows:

When used in this chapter the following terms shall have the indicated meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Department" means the department of agriculture of the state of Washington.

(2) "Director" means the director of the department or his duly authorized representative.

(3) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, exchange, association, trustee, receiver, corporation, and any member, officer, or employee thereof, or assignee for the benefit of creditors.

(4) "Adulterated" applies to any egg or egg product under one or more of the following circumstances:

(a) If it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health; but in case the substance is not an added substance, such article shall not be considered adulterated under this clause if the quantity of such substance in or on such article does not ordinarily render it injurious to health;

(b) If it bears or contains any added poisonous or added deleterious substance (other than one which is: (i) A pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity; (ii) a food additive; or (iii) a color additive) which may, in the judgment of the director, make such article unfit for human food;

(c) If it is, in whole or in part, a raw agricultural commodity and such commodity bears or contains a pesticide chemical which is unsafe within the meaning of RCW 69.04.392, as enacted or hereafter amended;

(d) If it bears or contains any food additive which is unsafe within the meaning of RCW 69.04.394, as enacted or hereafter amended;

(e) If it bears or contains any color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of RCW 69.04.396, as enacted or hereafter amended: PROVIDED, That an article which is not otherwise deemed adulterated under subsection (4)(c), (d), or (e) of this section shall nevertheless be deemed adulterated if use of the pesticide chemical, food additive, or color additive, in or on such article, is prohibited by regulations of the director in official plants;

(f) If it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance, or if it is otherwise unfit for human food;

(g) If it consists in whole or in part of any damaged egg or eggs to the extent that the egg meat or white is leaking, or it has been contacted by egg meat or white leaking from other eggs;

(h) If it has been prepared, packaged, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health;

((~~(h)~~)) (i) If it is an egg which has been subjected to incubation or the product of any egg which has been subjected to incubation;

((~~(i)~~)) (j) If its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health;

((~~(j)~~)) (k) If it has been intentionally subjected to radiation, unless the use of the radiation was in conformity with a regulation or exemption in effect pursuant to RCW 69.04.394; or

((~~(k)~~)) (l) If any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom; or if any substance has been substituted, wholly or in part therefor; or if damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner; or if any substance has been added thereto or mixed or packed therewith so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it is.

(5) "Capable of use as human food" shall apply to any egg or egg product unless it is denatured, or otherwise identified, as required by regulations prescribed by the director, to deter its use as human food.

(6) "Intrastate commerce" means any eggs or egg products in intrastate commerce, whether such eggs or egg products are intended for sale, held for sale, offered for sale, sold, stored, transported, or handled in this state in any manner and prepared for eventual distribution in this state, whether at wholesale or retail.

(7) "Container" or "package" includes any box, can, tin, plastic, or other receptacle, wrapper, or cover.

(8) "Immediate container" means any consumer package, or any other container in which egg products, not consumer-packaged, are packed.

(9) "Shipping container" means any container used in packaging a product packed in an immediate container.

(10) "Egg handler" or "dealer" means any person who produces, contracts for or obtains possession or control of any eggs for the purpose of sale to another dealer or retailer, or for processing and sale to a dealer, retailer or consumer: PROVIDED, That for the purpose of this chapter, "sell" or "sale" includes the following: Offer for sale, expose for sale, have in possession for sale, exchange, barter, trade, or as an inducement for the sale of another product.

(11) "Egg product" means any dried, frozen, or liquid eggs, with or without added ingredients, excepting products which contain eggs only in a relatively small proportion, or historically have not been, in the judgment of the director, considered by consumers as products of the egg food industry, and which may be exempted by the director under such conditions as he may prescribe to assure that the egg ingredients are not adulterated and such products are not represented as egg products.

(12) "Egg" means the shell egg of the domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or guinea, or any other specie of fowl.

(13) "Check" means an egg that has a broken shell or crack in the shell but has its shell membranes intact and contents not leaking.

(14) "Clean and sound shell egg" means any egg whose shell is free of adhering dirt or foreign material and is not cracked or broken.

(15) "Dirty egg" means an egg that has a shell that is unbroken and has adhering dirt or foreign material.

(16) "Incubator reject" means an egg that has been subjected to incubation and has been removed from incubation during the hatching operations as infertile or otherwise unhatchable.

(17) "Inedible" means eggs of the following descriptions: Black rots, yellow rots, white rots, mixed rots (addled eggs), sour eggs, eggs with green whites, eggs with stuck yolks, moldy eggs, musty eggs, eggs showing blood rings, and eggs containing embryo chicks (at or beyond the blood ring stage).

(18) "Leaker" means an egg that has a crack or break in the shell and shell membranes to the extent that the egg contents are exposed or are exuding or free to exude through the shell.

(19) "Loss" means an egg that is unfit for human food because it is smashed or broken so that its contents are leaking; or overheated, frozen, or contaminated; or an incubator reject; or because it contains a bloody white, large meat spots, a large quantity of blood, or other foreign material.

(20) "Restricted egg" means any check, dirty egg, incubator reject, inedible, leaker, or loss.

(21) "Inspection" means the application of such inspection methods and techniques as are deemed necessary by the director to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(22) "Inspector" means any employee or official of the department authorized to inspect eggs or egg products under the authority of this chapter.

(23) "Misbranded" shall apply to egg products which are not labeled and packaged in accordance with the requirements prescribed by regulations of the director under RCW 69.25.100.

(24) "Official certificate" means any certificate prescribed by regulations of the director for issuance by an inspector or other person performing official functions under this chapter.

(25) "Official device" means any device prescribed or authorized by the director for use in applying any official mark.

(26) "Official inspection legend" means any symbol prescribed by regulations of the director showing that egg products were inspected in accordance with this chapter.

(27) "Official mark" means the official inspection legend or any other symbol prescribed by regulations of the director to identify the status of any article under this chapter.

(28) "Official plant" means any plant which is licensed under the provisions of this chapter, at which inspection of the processing of egg products is maintained by the United States department of agriculture or by the state under cooperative agreements with the United States department of agriculture or by the state.

(29) "Official standards" means the standards of quality, grades, and weight classes for eggs, adopted under the provisions of this chapter.

(30) "Pasteurize" means the subjecting of each particle of egg products to heat or other treatments to destroy harmful, viable micro-organisms by such processes as may be prescribed by regulations of the director.

(31) "Pesticide chemical", "food additive", "color additive", and "raw agricultural commodity" shall have the same meaning for purposes of this chapter as prescribed in chapter 69.04 RCW.

(32) "Plant" means any place of business where egg products are processed.

(33) "Processing" means manufacturing egg products, including breaking eggs or filtering, mixing, blending, pasteurizing, stabilizing, cooling, freezing, drying, or packaging egg products.

(34) "Retailer" means any person in intrastate commerce who sells eggs to a consumer.

(35) "At retail" means any transaction in intrastate commerce between a retailer and a consumer.

(36) "Consumer" means any person who purchases eggs for his or her own family use or consumption; or any restaurant, hotel, boarding house, bakery, or other institution or concern which purchases eggs for serving to guests or patrons thereof, or for its own use in cooking or baking.

(37) "Candling" means the examination of the interior of eggs by the use of transmitted light used in a partially dark room or place.

(38) "Master license system" means the mechanism established by chapter 19.02 RCW by which master licenses, endorsed for individual state-issued licenses, are issued and renewed utilizing a master application and a master license expiration date common to each renewable license endorsement.

(39) "Ambient temperature" means the atmospheric temperature surrounding or encircling shell eggs.

Sec. 26. RCW 69.25.050 and 1982 c 182 s 43 are each amended to read as follows:

No person shall act as an egg handler or dealer without first obtaining an annual license and permanent dealer's number from the department; such license shall expire on the master license expiration date. Application for an egg dealer license or egg dealer branch license, shall be made through the master license system. The annual egg dealer license fee shall be ((~~ten~~)) thirty dollars and the annual egg dealer branch license fee shall be ((~~five~~)) fifteen dollars. A copy of the master license shall be posted at each location where such licensee operates. Such application shall include the full name of the applicant for the license and the location of each facility he intends to operate. If such applicant is an individual, receiver, trustee, firm, partnership, association or corporation, the full name of each member of the firm or partnership or the names of the officers of the association or corporation shall be given on the application. Such application shall further state the principal business address of the applicant in the state and elsewhere and the name of a person domiciled in this state authorized to receive and accept service of summons of legal notices of all kinds for the applicant and any other necessary information prescribed by the director. Upon the approval of the application and compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including the applicable regulations adopted hereunder by the department, the applicant shall be issued a license or renewal thereof. Such license and permanent egg handler or dealer's number shall be nontransferable.

Sec. 27. RCW 69.25.150 and 1992 c 7 s 47 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) ((~~Any person who commits any offense prohibited by RCW 69.25.110 shall upon conviction be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.~~)) (a) Any person violating any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and guilty of a gross misdemeanor for any second and subsequent violation. Any offense committed more than five years after a previous conviction shall be considered a first offense. A misdemeanor under this section is punishable to the same extent that a misdemeanor is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021 and a gross misdemeanor under this section is punishable to the same extent that a gross misdemeanor is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021.

(b) Whenever the director finds that a person has committed a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, and that violation has not been punished pursuant to (a) of this subsection, the director may impose upon and collect from the violator a civil penalty not exceeding one thousand dollars per violation per day. Each violation shall be a separate and distinct offense.

When construing or enforcing the provisions of RCW 69.25.110, the act, omission, or failure of any person acting for or employed by any individual, partnership, corporation, or association within the scope of the person's employment or office shall in every case be deemed the act, omission, or failure of such individual, partnership, corporation, or association, as well as of such person.

(2) No carrier or warehouseman shall be subject to the penalties of this chapter, other than the penalties for violation of RCW 69.25.140, or subsection (3) of this section, by reason of his or her receipt, carriage, holding, or delivery, in the usual course of business, as a carrier or warehouseman of eggs or egg products owned by another person unless the carrier or warehouseman has knowledge, or is in possession of facts which would cause a reasonable person to believe that such eggs or egg products were not eligible for transportation under, or were otherwise in violation of, this chapter, or unless the carrier or warehouseman refuses to furnish on request of a representative of the director the name and address of the person from whom he or she received such eggs or egg products and copies of all documents, if there be any, pertaining to the delivery of the eggs or egg products to, or by, such carrier or warehouseman.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law any person who forcibly assaults, resists, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person while engaged in or on account of the performance of his or her official duties under this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not more than three years, or both. Whoever, in the commission of any such act, uses a deadly or dangerous weapon, shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not more than ten years, or both.

Sec. 28. RCW 69.25.170 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 201 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The director may, by regulation and under such conditions and procedures as he may prescribe, exempt from specific provisions of this chapter:

(a) The sale, transportation, possession, or use of eggs which contain no more restricted eggs than are allowed by the tolerance in the official state standards for consumer grades for shell eggs;

(b) The processing of egg products at any plant where the facilities and operating procedures meet such sanitary standards as may be prescribed by the director, and where the eggs received or used in the manufacture of egg products contain no more restricted eggs than are allowed by the official standards of the state consumer grades for shell eggs, and the egg products processed at such plant;

(c) The sale of eggs by any poultry producer from his own flocks directly to a household consumer exclusively for use by such consumer and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and employees, and the transportation, possession, and use of such eggs in accordance with this subsection;

(d) The sale of eggs by shell egg packers on his own premises directly to household consumers for use by such consumer and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and employees, and the transportation, possession, and use of such eggs in accordance with this subsection;

(e) The sale of eggs by any egg producer with an annual egg production from a flock of three thousand hens or less.

(2) The director may modify or revoke any regulation granting exemption under this chapter whenever he deems such action appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.

Sec. 29. RCW 69.25.250 and 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

There is hereby levied an assessment not to exceed three mills per dozen eggs entering intrastate commerce, as prescribed by rules and regulations issued by the director. Such assessment shall be applicable to all eggs entering intrastate commerce except as provided in RCW 69.25.170 and 69.25.290. Such assessment shall be paid to the director on a monthly basis on or before the tenth day following the month such eggs enter intrastate commerce. The director may require reports by egg handlers or dealers along with the payment of the assessment fee. Such reports may include any and all pertinent information necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The director may, by regulations, require egg container manufacturers to report on a monthly basis all egg containers sold to any egg handler or dealer and bearing such egg handler or dealer's ((~~license~~)) permanent number.

Sec. 30. RCW 69.25.310 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 201 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All containers used by an egg handler or dealer to package eggs shall bear the name and address or the permanent number issued by the director to said egg handler or dealer. Such permanent number shall be displayed in a size and location prescribed by the director. ((It shall constitute a gross misdemeanor for any egg handler or dealer to reuse a container which bears the permanent number of another egg handler or dealer unless such number is totally obliterated prior to reuse.)) It shall be a violation for any egg handler or dealer to use a container that bears the permanent number of another egg handler or dealer unless such number is totally obliterated prior to use. The director may in addition require the obliteration of any or all markings that may be on any container which will be ((~~reused~~)) used for eggs by an egg handler or dealer.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section and following written notice to the director, licensed egg handlers and dealers may use new containers bearing another handler's or dealer's permanent number on a temporary basis, in any event not longer than one year, with the consent of such other handler or dealer for the purpose of using up existing container stocks. Sale of container stock shall constitute agreement by the parties to use the permanent number.

Sec. 31. RCW 69.25.320 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 201 s 33 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) In addition to any other records required to be kept and furnished the director under the provisions of this chapter, the director may require any person who sells to any retailer, or to any restaurant, hotel, boarding house, bakery, or any institution or concern which purchases eggs for serving to guests or patrons thereof or for its use in preparation of any food product for human consumption, candled or graded eggs other than those of his own production sold and delivered on the premises where produced, to furnish that retailer or other purchaser with an invoice covering each such sale, showing the exact grade or quality, and the size or weight of the eggs sold, according to the standards prescribed by the director, together with the name and address of the person by whom the eggs were sold. The person selling and the retailer or other purchaser shall keep a copy of said invoice on file at his place of business for a period of thirty days, during which time the copy shall be available for inspection at all reasonable times by the director: PROVIDED, That no retailer or other purchaser shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter if he can establish a guarantee from the person from whom the eggs were purchased to the effect that they, at the time of purchase, conformed to the information required by the director on such invoice: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if the retailer or other purchaser having labeled any such eggs in accordance with the invoice keeps them for such a time after they are purchased as to cause them to deteriorate to a lower grade or standard, and sells them under the label of the invoice grade or standard, he shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter.

(2) Each retailer and each distributor shall store shell eggs awaiting sale or display eggs under clean and sanitary conditions in areas free from rodents and insects. Shell eggs must be stored up off the floor away from strong odors, pesticides, and cleaners.

(3) After being received at the point of first purchase, all graded shell eggs packed in containers for the purpose of sale to consumers shall be held and transported under refrigeration at ambient temperatures no greater than forty-five degrees Fahrenheit (seven and two-tenths degrees Celsius). This provision shall apply without limitation to retailers, institutional users, dealer/wholesalers, food handlers, transportation firms, or any person who handles eggs after the point of first purchase.

(4) No invoice shall be required on eggs when packed for sale to the United States department of defense, or a component thereof, if labeled with grades promulgated by the United States secretary of agriculture.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 32. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 69.25.330 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 201 s 34; and

(2) RCW 69.25.340 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 201 s 36.

Sec. 33. RCW 15.53.901 and 1982 c 177 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The definitions set forth in this section apply ((~~through [throughout]~~)) throughout this chapter.

((~~(1) "Department" means the department of agriculture of the state of Washington or its duly authorized representative.~~

~~(2) "Person" means a natural person, individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, society, or association.~~

~~(3) "Distribute" means to import, consign, manufacture, produce, compound, mix, or blend commercial feed, or to offer for sale, sell, barter, or otherwise supply commercial feed in this state.~~

~~(4) "Distributor" means any person who distributes.~~

~~(5) "Sell" or "sale" includes exchange.~~

~~(6) "Commercial feed" means all materials including customer-formula feed which are distributed for use as feed or for mixing in feed, for animals other than man.~~

~~(7) "Feed ingredient" means each of the constituent materials making up a commercial feed.~~

~~(8) "Customer-formula feed" means a mixture of commercial feed and/or materials each batch of which is mixed according to the specific instructions of the final purchaser or contract feeder.~~

~~(9) "Brand" means the term, design, trademark, or other specific designation under which an individual commercial feed is distributed in this state.~~

~~(10) "Product" means the name of the commercial feed that identifies it as to kind, class, or specific use.~~

(11) "Label" means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon or affixed to the container in which a commercial feed is distributed, or on the invoice or delivery slip with which a commercial feed is distributed.

~~(12) "Labeling" means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter upon a commercial feed or any of its containers or wrappers, or otherwise accompanying such commercial feed.~~

~~(13) "Ton" means a net weight of two thousand pounds avoirdupois.~~

~~(14) "Percent" or "percentage" means percentage by weight.~~

~~(15) "Official sample" means any sample of feed taken by the department, obtained and analyzed as provided in RCW 15.53.9024.~~

(16) "Contract feeder" means an independent contractor, or any other person who feeds commercial feed to animals pursuant to an oral or written agreement whereby such commercial feed is supplied, furnished or otherwise provided to such person by any distributor and whereby such person's remuneration is determined all or in part by feed consumption, mortality, profits, or amount or quality of product: PROVIDED, That it shall not include a bona fide employee of a manufacturer or distributor of commercial feed.

~~(17) "Retail" means to distribute to the ultimate consumer.~~))

(1) "Brand name" means a word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination thereof, identifying the commercial feed of a distributor or registrant and distinguishing it from that of others.

(2) "Commercial feed" means all materials or combination of materials that are distributed or intended for distribution for use as feed or for mixing in feed, unless such materials are specifically exempted. Unmixed whole seeds and physically altered entire unmixed seeds, when such whole seeds or physically altered seeds are not chemically changed or not adulterated within the meaning of RCW 15.53.902, are exempt. The department by rule may exempt from this definition, or from specific provisions of this chapter, commodities such as hay, straw, stover, silage, cobs, husks, hulls, and individual chemical compounds or substances when such commodities, compounds, or substances are not intermixed with other materials, and are not adulterated within the meaning of RCW 15.53.902.

(3) "Contract feeder" means a person who is an independent contractor and feeds commercial feed to animals pursuant to a contract whereby such commercial feed is supplied, furnished, or otherwise provided to such person and whereby such person's remuneration is determined all or in part by feed consumption, mortality, profits, or amount or quality of product.

(4) "Customer‑formula feed" means commercial feed that consists of a mixture of commercial feeds or feed ingredients, or both, each batch of which is manufactured according to the instructions of the final purchaser.

(5) "Department" means the department of agriculture of the state of Washington or its duly authorized representative.

(6) "Director" means the director of the department or a duly authorized representative.

(7) "Distribute" means to offer for sale, sell, exchange or barter, commercial feed; or to supply, furnish, or otherwise provide commercial feed to a contract feeder.

(8) "Distributor" means a person who distributes.

(9) "Drug" means an article intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in animals other than people and articles, other than feed intended to affect the structure or a function of the animal body.

(10) "Exempt buyer" means a licensee who has agreed to be responsible for reporting tonnage and paying inspection fees for all commercial feeds they distribute. An exempt buyer must apply for exempt buyer status with the department. The department shall maintain a list of all exempt buyers and make the list available on request.

(11) "Feed ingredient" means each of the constituent materials making up a commercial feed.

(12) "Final purchaser" means a person who purchases commercial feed to feed to animals in his or her care.

(13) "Initial distributor" means a person who first distributes a commercial feed in or into this state.

(14) "Label" means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon or affixed to the container in which a commercial feed is distributed, or on the invoice or delivery slip with which a commercial feed is distributed.

(15) "Labeling" means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter: (a) Upon a commercial feed or any of its containers or wrappers; or (b) accompanying such commercial feed.

(16) "Licensee" means a person who holds a commercial feed license as prescribed in this chapter.

(17) "Manufacture" means to grind, mix or blend, or further process a commercial feed for distribution.

(18) "Medicated feed" means a commercial feed containing a drug or other medication.

(19) "Mineral feed" means a commercial feed intended to supply primarily mineral elements or inorganic nutrients.

(20) "Official sample" means a sample of feed taken by the department, obtained and analyzed as provided in RCW 15.53.9024 (3), (5), or (6).

(21) "Percent" or "percentage" means percentage by weight.

(22) "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association.

(23) "Pet" means a domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner of the pet.

(24) "Pet food" means a commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by pets.

(25) "Product name" means the name of the commercial feed that identifies it as to kind, class, or specific use.

(26) "Retail" means to distribute to the final purchaser.

(27) "Sell" or "sale" includes exchange.

(28) "Specialty pet" means a domesticated animal pet normally maintained in a cage or tank, such as, but not limited to, gerbils, hamsters, canaries, psittacine birds, mynahs, finches, tropical fish, goldfish, snakes, and turtles.

(29) "Specialty pet food" means a commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by specialty pets.

(30) "Ton" means a net weight of two thousand pounds avoirdupois.

(31) "Quantity statement" means the net weight (mass), net volume (liquid or dry), or count.

Sec. 34. RCW 15.53.9012 and 1965 ex.s. c 31 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall administer, enforce and carry out the provisions of this chapter and may adopt rules necessary to carry out its purpose. In adopting such rules, the director shall consider (a) the official definitions of feed ingredients and official feed terms adopted by the association of American feed control officials and published in the official publication of that organization; and (b) any regulation adopted pursuant to the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 301, et seq.), if the department would have the authority under this chapter to adopt the regulations. The adoption of rules shall be subject to a public hearing and all other applicable provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW (Administrative Procedure Act)((~~, as enacted or hereafter amended~~)).

(2) The director when adopting rules in respect to the feed industry shall consult with affected parties, such as manufacturers and distributors of commercial feed and any final rule adopted shall be designed to promote orderly marketing and shall be reasonable and necessary and based upon the requirements and condition of the industry and shall be for the purpose of promoting the well-being of the members of the feed industry as well as the well-being of the purchasers and users of feed and for the general welfare of the people of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 35. A new section is added to chapter 15.53 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Beginning January 1, 1996, a person who manufactures a commercial feed, is an initial distributor of a commercial feed, or whose name appears as the responsible party on a commercial feed label to be distributed in or into this state shall first obtain from the department a commercial feed license for each facility. Sale of food processing byproducts from fruit, vegetable, or potato processing plants, freezing or dehydrating facilities, or juice or jelly preserving plants, bona fide experimental feed on which accurate records and experimental programs are maintained, and pet food and specialty pet food are exempt from the requirement of a commercial feed license. The sale of byproducts or products of sugar refineries are not exempt from the requirement of a commercial feed license.

(2) Application for a commercial feed license shall be made annually on forms provided by the department and shall be accompanied by a fee of fifty dollars, except that for the period beginning January 1, 1996, and ending June 30, 1996, the fee shall be twenty-five dollars. The commercial feed license shall expire on June 30th of each year.

(3) An application for license shall include the following:

(a) The name and address of the applicant;

(b) Other information required by the department by rule.

(4) After January 1, 1996, application for license renewal is due July 1st of each year. If an application for license renewal provided for in this section is not filed with the department prior to July 15th, a delinquency fee of fifty dollars shall be assessed and added to the original fee and must be paid by the applicant before the renewal license is issued. The assessment of the delinquency fee shall not prevent the department from taking other action as provided for in this chapter. The penalty does not apply if the applicant furnishes an affidavit that he or she has not distributed a commercial feed subsequent to the expiration of his or her prior license.

(5) The department may deny a license application if the applicant is not in compliance with this chapter or applicable rules, and may revoke a license if the licensee is not in compliance with this chapter or applicable rules. Prior to denial or revocation of a license, the department shall provide notice and an opportunity to correct deficiencies. If an applicant or licensee fails to correct the deficiency, the department shall deny or revoke the license. If aggrieved by the decision, the applicant or licensee may request a hearing as authorized under chapter 34.05 RCW.

(6) Notwithstanding the payment of a delinquency fee, it is a violation to distribute a commercial feed by an unlicensed person, and nothing in this chapter shall prevent the department from imposing a penalty authorized by this chapter for the violation.

(7) The department may under conditions specified by rule, request copies of labels and labeling in order to determine compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 36. RCW 15.53.9014 and 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each ((~~commercial feed~~)) pet food and specialty pet food shall be registered with the department and such registration shall be renewed annually before such commercial feed may be distributed in this state((: PROVIDED, That sales of food processing byproducts from fruit, vegetable, or potato processing plants, freezing or dehydrating facilities, or juice or jelly preserving plants; unmixed seed, whole or processed, made directly from the entire seed; unground hay, straw, stover, silage, cobs, husks, and hulls, when not mixed with other material; bona fide experimental feeds on which accurate records and experimental programs are maintained; and customer-formula feeds are exempt from such registration. The exemption for byproducts provided by this subsection does not apply to byproducts or products of sugar refineries or to materials used in the preparation of pet foods.

(a) Beginning July 1, 1993, each registration for a commercial feed product distributed in packages of ten pounds or more shall be accompanied by a fee of eleven dollars. If such commercial feed is also distributed in packages of less than ten pounds it shall be registered under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Beginning July 1, 1993, each registration for a commercial feed product distributed in packages of less than ten pounds shall be accompanied by an annual registration fee of forty-five dollars on each such commercial feed so distributed, but no inspection fee may be collected on packages of less than ten pounds of the commercial feed so registered)).

(2) The application for registration of pet food and specialty pet food shall be on forms provided by the department and shall be accompanied by the fees in subsection (3) of this section. Registrations expire on June 30th of each year.

(3) Pet food and specialty pet food registration fees are as follows:

(a) Each pet food and specialty pet food distributed in packages of ten pounds or more shall be accompanied by a fee of eleven dollars, except that for the period beginning January 1, 1996, and ending June 30, 1996, the fee shall be five dollars and fifty cents. If such commercial feed is also distributed in packages of less than ten pounds it shall be registered under (b) of this subsection.

(b) Each pet food and specialty pet food distributed in packages of less than ten pounds shall be accompanied by a fee of forty-five dollars, except that for the period beginning January 1, 1996, and ending June 30, 1996, the fee shall be twenty-two dollars and fifty cents. No inspection fee may be collected on pet food and specialty pet food distributed in packages of less than ten pounds.

(4) The department may require that ((~~such~~)) the application for registration of pet food and specialty pet food be accompanied by a label and/or other printed matter describing the product. ((All registrations expire on December 31st of each year, and are renewable unless such registration is canceled by the department or it has called for a new registration, or unless canceled by the registrant.

~~(4) The application shall include the information required by RCW 15.53.9016(1)(b) through (1)(e).~~))

(5) A distributor shall not be required to register ((~~any commercial feed brand or product which~~)) a pet food or specialty pet food that is already registered under the provisions of this chapter, as long as it is distributed with the original label.

(6) Changes in the guarantee of either chemical or ingredient composition of a ((~~commercial feed~~)) pet food or specialty pet food registered under the provisions of this chapter may be permitted if there is satisfactory evidence that such changes would not result in a lowering of the feed value of the product for the purpose for which it was designed.

(7) The department is ((~~empowered~~)) authorized to refuse registration of any application not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and any rule adopted under this chapter and to cancel any registration subsequently found to be not in compliance with any provisions of this chapter((, but a registration shall not be refused or canceled until the registrant has been given opportunity to be heard before the department and to amend his application in order to comply with the requirements of)) and any rule adopted under this chapter. Prior to refusal or cancellation of a registration, the applicant or registrant of an existing registered pet food or specialty pet food shall be notified of the reasons and given an opportunity to amend the application to comply. If the applicant does not make the necessary corrections, the department shall refuse to register the feed. The applicant or registrant of an existing registered pet food or specialty pet food may request a hearing as provided for in chapter 34.05 RCW.

(8) After January 1, 1996, application for renewal of registration is due July 1st of each year. If an application for renewal of the registration provided for in this section is not filed prior to ((~~January 1st~~)) July 15th of any one year, a penalty of ten dollars per product shall be assessed and added to the original fee and shall be paid by the applicant before the renewal registration may be issued, unless the applicant furnishes an affidavit that he has not distributed this feed subsequent to the expiration of his or her prior registration.

(9) It is a violation of this chapter to distribute an unregistered pet food or specialty pet food. Payment of a delinquency fee shall not prevent the department from imposing a penalty authorized by this chapter for the violation.

Sec. 37. RCW 15.53.9016 and 1965 ex.s. c 31 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any commercial feed ((~~registered with the department and~~)), except a customer-formula feed, distributed in this state shall be accompanied by a legible label bearing the following information:

(a) ((~~The net weight as required under chapter 19.94 RCW as enacted or hereinafter amended.~~

~~(b)~~)) The product name ((or)) and the brand name, if any, under which the commercial feed is distributed.

(((c) The guaranteed analysis of the commercial feed, listing the minimum percentage of crude protein, minimum percentage of crude fat, and maximum percentage of crude fiber. For mineral feeds the list shall include the following if added: Minimum and maximum percentages of calcium (Ca), minimum percentage of phosphorus (P), minimum percentage of iodine (I), and minimum and maximum percentages of salt (NaCl). Other substances or elements, determinable by laboratory methods, may be guaranteed by permission of the department. When any items are guaranteed, they shall be subject to inspection and analysis in accordance with the methods and regulations that may be prescribed by the department. Products distributed solely as mineral and/or vitamin supplements and guaranteed as specified in this section need not show guarantees for protein, fat, and fiber.

~~(d)~~)) (b) The guaranteed analysis stated in such terms as the department by rule determines is required to advise the user of the composition of the feed or to support claims made in the labeling. In all cases the substances or elements must be determinable by laboratory methods such as the methods published by the association of official analytical chemists.

(c) The common or usual name of each ingredient used in the manufacture of the commercial feed, except as the department may, by regulation, permit the use of a collective term for a group of ingredients all of which perform the same function. An ingredient statement is not required for single standardized ingredient feeds which are officially defined.

((~~(e)~~)) (d) The name and principal mailing address of the person responsible for distributing the commercial feed.

(e) Adequate directions for use for all commercial feeds containing drugs and for all such other commercial feeds as the department may require by rule as necessary for their safe and effective use.

(f) Precautionary statements as the department by rule determines are necessary for the safe and effective use of the commercial feed.

(g) The net weight as required under chapter 19.94 RCW.

(2) When a commercial feed, except a customer-formula feed, is distributed in this state in bags or other containers, the label shall be placed on or affixed to the container; when a commercial feed, except a customer-formula feed, is distributed in bulk the label shall accompany delivery and be furnished to the purchaser at time of delivery.

(3) A customer-formula feed shall be labeled by ((~~invoice~~)) shipping document. The ((~~invoice~~)) shipping document, which is to accompany delivery and be supplied to the purchaser at the time of delivery, shall bear the following information:

(a) Name and address of the ((~~mixer~~)) manufacturer;

(b) Name and address of the purchaser;

(d) ((~~Brand name and number of pounds of each registered commercial feed used in the mixture and the name and number of pounds of each other feed ingredient added.~~

(4) If a commercial feed contains a nonnutritive substance which is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or which is intended to affect the structure or any function of the animal body, the department may require the label to show the amount present, directions for use, and/or warnings against misuse of the feed.

(5) A customer-formula feed shall be considered to be in violation of this chapter if it does not conform to the invoice labeling. Upon request of the department it shall be the duty of the person distributing the customer-formula feed to supply the department with a copy of the invoice which represents that particular feed: PROVIDED, That such person shall not be required to keep such invoice for a period of longer than six months)) Product name and the net weight as required under chapter 19.94 RCW;

(e) Adequate directions for use for all customer-formula feeds containing drugs and for such other feeds as the department may require by rule as necessary for their safe and effective use;

(f) The directions for use and precautionary statements as required by subsection (1) (e) and (f) of this section; and

(g) If a drug containing product is used:

(i) The purpose of the medication (claim statement);

(ii) The established name of each active drug ingredient and the level of each drug used in the final mixture expressed in accordance with rules established by the department.

(4) The product name and quantity statement of each commercial feed and each other ingredient used in the customer formula feed must be on file at the plant producing the product. These records must be kept on file for one year after the last sale. This information shall be made available to the purchaser, the dealer making the sale, and the department on request.

Sec. 38. RCW 15.53.9018 and 1982 c 177 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) ((~~On or after June 30, 1981,~~)) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, each initial distributor of a commercial feed in this state shall pay to the department an inspection fee on all commercial feed sold by such person during the year. The fee shall be not less than four cents nor more than ((~~fourteen~~)) twelve cents per ton as prescribed by the director by rule: PROVIDED, That such fees shall be used for routine enforcement ((~~of RCW 15.53.9022 and for analysis for contaminants only when the department has reasonable cause to believe any lot of feed or any feed ingredient is adulterated~~)) and administration of this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.

(2) ((~~In computing the tonnage on which the inspection fee must be paid, sales of: (a) Commercial feed to other feed registrants;~~)) An inspection fee is not required for: (a) Commercial feed distributed by a person having proof that inspection fees have been paid by his or her supplier (manufacturer); (b) commercial feed in packages weighing less than ten pounds; (c) commercial feed for shipment to points outside this state; (d) food processing byproducts from fruit, vegetable, or potato processing plants, freezing or dehydrating facilities, or juice or jelly preserving plants; and (e) ((~~unmixed seed, whole or processed, made directly from the entire seed; (f) unground hay, straw, stover, silage, cobs, husks, and hulls, when not mixed with other material; and (g)~~)) bona fide experimental feeds on which accurate records and experimental programs are maintained ((~~may be excluded. The exemption for byproducts provided by this subsection does not apply to byproducts or products of sugar refineries or to materials used in the preparation of pet foods~~)).

(3) Tonnage will be reported and inspection fees will be paid on (a) byproducts or products of sugar refineries; (b) materials used in the preparation of pet foods and specialty pet food.

(4) When more than one distributor is involved in the distribution of a commercial feed, the ((~~last registrant or~~)) initial distributor ((~~who distributes to a nonregistrant (dealer or consumer)~~)) is responsible for reporting the tonnage and paying the inspection fee, unless ((~~the reporting and paying of fees have been made by a prior distributor of the feed~~)) this sale or transaction is made to an exempt buyer.

((~~(4)~~)) (5) Each person made responsible by this chapter for the payment of inspection fees for commercial feed sold in this state shall file a report with the department on January 1st and July 1st of each year showing the number of tons of such commercial feed sold during the six calendar months immediately preceding the date the report is due. The proper inspection fee shall be remitted with the report. The person required to file the report and pay the fee shall have a thirty-day period of grace immediately following the day the report and payment are due to file the report, and pay the fee. Upon permission of the department, an annual statement under oath may be filed by any person distributing within the state less than one hundred tons for each six-month period during any year, and upon filing such statement such person shall pay the inspection fee at the rate provided for in subsection (1) of this section. The minimum inspection fee shall be twelve dollars and fifty cents for each six-month reporting period or twenty-five dollars if reporting annually.

(((5) Each distributor shall keep such reasonable and practical records as may be necessary or required by the department to indicate accurately the tonnage of commercial feed distributed in this state, and the department has the right to examine such records to verify statements of tonnage. Failure to make an accurate statement of tonnage or to pay the inspection fee or comply as provided herein constitutes a violation of this chapter, and may result in the issuance of an order for "withdrawal from distribution" on any commercial feed being subsequently distributed.

(6) Inspection fees which are due and owing and have not been remitted to the department within thirty days following the due date shall have a collection fee of ten percent, but not less than ten dollars, added to the amount due when payment is finally made. The assessment of this collection fee shall not prevent the department from taking other actions as provided for in this chapter.

~~(7)~~)) (6) For the purpose of determining accurate tonnage of commercial feed distributed in this state or to identify or verify semiannual tonnage reports, the department may require each registrant or licensee, or both, to maintain records or file additional reports.

(7) The department may examine at reasonable times the records maintained under this section. Records shall be maintained in usable condition by the registrant or licensee for a period of two years unless by rule this retention period is extended.

(8) The registrant or licensee shall maintain records required under this section and submit these records to the department upon request.

(9) Any person responsible for reporting tonnage or paying inspection fees who fails to do so before the thirty-first day following the last day of each reporting period, shall pay a penalty equal to fifteen percent of the inspection fee due or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. The penalty, together with any delinquent inspection fee is due before the forty-first day following the last day of each reporting period. The department may cancel registration of a registrant or may revoke a license of a licensee who fails to pay the penalty and delinquent inspection fees within that time period. The applicant or licensee may request a hearing as authorized under chapter 34.05 RCW.

(10) The report required by subsection ((~~(4)~~)) (5) of this section shall not be a public record, and it is a misdemeanor for any person to divulge any information given in such report which would reveal the business operation of the person making the report: PROVIDED, That nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to prevent or make unlawful the use of information concerning the business operation of a person if any action, suit, or proceeding instituted under the authority of this chapter, including any civil action for collection of unpaid inspection fees, which action is hereby authorized and which shall be as an action at law in the name of the director of the department.

((~~(8)~~)) (11) Any commercial feed purchased by a consumer or contract feeder outside the jurisdiction of this state and brought into this state for use is subject to all the provisions of this chapter, including inspection fees.

Sec. 39. RCW 15.53.902 and 1982 c 177 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

It is unlawful for any person to distribute an adulterated feed. A commercial feed is deemed to be adulterated:

(1) If it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health; but in case the substance is not an added substance, such commercial feed shall not be considered adulterated under this subsection if the quantity of such substance in such commercial feed does not ordinarily render it injurious to health; or

(2) If it bears or contains any added poisonous, added deleterious, or added nonnutritive substance which is unsafe within the meaning of section 406 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (other than one which is (a) a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity; or (b) a food additive); or

(3) If it is, or it bears, or contains any food additive which is unsafe within the meaning of section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 348); or

(4) If it is a raw agricultural commodity and it bears or contains a pesticide chemical which is unsafe within the meaning of section 408(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: PROVIDED, That where a pesticide chemical has been used in or on a raw agricultural commodity in conformity with an exemption granted or a tolerance prescribed under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and such raw agricultural commodity has been subjected to processing such as canning, cooking, freezing, dehydrating, or milling, the residue of such pesticide chemical remaining in or on such processed feed shall not be deemed unsafe if such residue in or on the raw agricultural commodity has been removed to the extent possible in good manufacturing practice and the concentration of such residue in the processed feed is not greater than the tolerance prescribed for the raw agricultural commodity unless the feeding of such processed feed will result or is likely to result in a pesticide residue in the edible product of the animal, which is unsafe within the meaning of section 408(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; or

(5) If it is, or it bears or contains any color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of section 706 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; or

(6) If it is, or it bears or contains any new animal drug that is unsafe within the meaning of section 512 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 360b); or

(7) If any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom or any less valuable substance substituted therefor; or

((~~(7)~~)) (8) If its composition or quality falls below or differs from that which it is purported or is represented to possess by its labeling; or

((~~(8)~~)) (9) If it contains a drug and the methods used in or the facilities or controls used for its manufacture, processing, or packaging do not conform to current good manufacturing practice rules adopted by the department to assure that the drug meets the requirements of this chapter as to safety and has the identity and strength and meets the quality and purity characteristics that it purports or is represented to possess. In adopting such rules, the department shall adopt the current good manufacturing practice regulations for type A medicated articles and type B and type C medicated feeds established under authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, unless the department determines that they are not appropriate to the conditions that exist in this state; or

(10) If it contains viable, prohibited (primary) noxious weed seeds in excess of one per pound, or if it contains viable, restricted (secondary) noxious weed seeds in excess of twenty-five per pound. The primary and secondary noxious weed seeds shall be those as named pursuant to the provisions of chapter 15.49 RCW ((~~as enacted or hereafter amended~~)) and rules adopted thereunder.

Sec. 40. RCW 15.53.9022 and 1965 ex.s. c 31 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

It shall be unlawful for any person to distribute misbranded feed. A commercial feed shall be deemed to be misbranded:

(1) If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;

(2) If it is distributed under the name of another commercial feed;

(3) If it is not labeled as required in RCW 15.53.9016 and in ((~~regulations~~)) rules prescribed under this chapter;

(4) If it purports to be or is represented as a commercial feed ((~~ingredient~~)), or if it purports to contain or is represented as containing a commercial feed or feed ingredient, unless such commercial feed or feed ingredient conforms to the definition of identity, if any, prescribed by ((~~regulation~~)) rule of the department. In the adopting of such ((~~regulations~~)) rules the department may consider commonly accepted definitions such as those issued by nationally recognized associations or groups of feed control officials;

(5) If any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this chapter to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed thereon with such conspicuousness (as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices, in the labeling) and in such terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;

(6) If its composition or quality falls below or differs from that which it is purported or is represented to possess by its labeling.

Sec. 41. RCW 15.53.9024 and 1965 ex.s. c 31 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) ((It shall be the duty of the department to sample, inspect, make analysis of, and test commercial feed distributed within this state at such time and place and to such an extent as it may deem necessary to determine whether such feeds are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The department is authorized to stop any commercial vehicle transporting feed on the public highways and direct it to the nearest scales approved by the department to check weights of feeds being delivered. The department is also authorized, upon presentation of proper identification, to enter any distributor's premises including any vehicle of transport at all reasonable times in order to have access to commercial feed and to records relating to their distribution. This includes the determining of the weight of packages and bulk shipments.

~~(2) The methods of sampling and analysis shall be those adopted by the department from officially recognized sources.~~

~~(3)~~)) For the purpose of enforcement of this chapter, and in order to determine whether its provisions have been complied with, including whether an operation is subject to such provisions, inspectors duly designated by the director, upon presenting appropriate credentials, and a written notice to the owner, operator, or agent in charge, are authorized (a) to enter, during normal business hours, a factory, warehouse, or establishment within the state in which commercial feeds are manufactured, processed, packed, or held for distribution, or to enter a vehicle being used to transport or hold such feeds; and (b) to inspect at reasonable times and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, such factory, warehouse, establishment, or vehicle and all pertinent equipment, finished and unfinished materials, containers, and labeling. The inspection may include the verification of only such records, and production and control procedures as may be necessary to determine compliance with the current good manufacturing practice regulations established under RCW 15.53.902(9) and rules adopted under good manufacturing practices for feeds to include nonmedicated feeds.

(2) A separate notice shall be given for each such inspection, but a notice is not required for each entry made during the period covered by the inspection. Each such inspection shall be commenced and completed with reasonable promptness. Upon completion of the inspection, the person in charge of the facility or vehicle shall be so notified.

(3) If the inspector or employee making such inspection of a factory, warehouse, or other establishment has obtained a sample in the course of the inspection, upon completion of the inspection and prior to leaving the premises, he or she shall give to the owner, operator, or agent in charge, a receipt describing the samples obtained.

(4) If the owner of a factory, warehouse, or establishment described in subsection (1) of this section, or his or her agent, refuses to admit the director or his or her agent to inspect in accordance with subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the director or his or her agent is authorized to obtain from any court of competent jurisdiction a warrant directing such owner or his or her agent to submit the premises described in the warrant to inspection.

(5) For the enforcement of this chapter, the director or his or her duly assigned agent is authorized to enter upon any public or private premises including any vehicle of transport during regular business hours to have access to, and to obtain samples, and to examine records relating to distribution of commercial feeds.

(6) Sampling and analysis shall be conducted in accordance with methods published by the association of official analytical chemists, or in accordance with other generally recognized methods.

(7) The results of all analyses of official samples shall be forwarded by the department to the person named on the label and to the purchaser, if known. If the inspection and analysis of an official sample indicates a commercial feed has been adulterated or misbranded and upon request within thirty days following the receipt of the analysis, the department shall furnish to the registrant or licensee a portion of the sample concerned. If referee analysis is requested, a portion of the official sample shall be furnished by the department and shall be sent directly to an independent lab agreed to by all parties.

(8) The department, in determining for administrative purposes whether a feed is deficient in any component, shall be guided solely by the official sample as defined in RCW 15.53.901((~~(13)~~)) (20) and obtained and analyzed as provided for in this section.

(((4) When the inspection and analysis of an official sample has been made the results of analysis shall be forwarded by the department to the distributor and to the purchaser if known. Upon request and within thirty days the department shall furnish to the distributor a portion of the sample concerned.

~~(5)~~)) (9) Analysis of an official sample by the department shall be accepted as prima facie evidence by any court of competent jurisdiction.

Sec. 42. RCW 15.53.9038 and 1982 c 177 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) When the department has reasonable cause to believe that any lot of commercial feed is adulterated or misbranded or is being distributed in violation of this chapter or any ((~~regulations~~)) rules hereunder it may issue and enforce a written or printed "withdrawal from distribution" order, or "stop sale" order, warning the distributor not to dispose of the lot of feed in any manner until written permission is given by the department ((~~or a court of competent jurisdiction~~)). The department shall release the lot of commercial feed so withdrawn when the provisions and ((~~regulations~~)) rules have been complied with. If compliance is not obtained within thirty days, parties may agree to an alternative disposition in writing or the department may ((~~begin~~)) institute condemnation proceedings ((~~for condemnation~~)) in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(2) Any lot of commercial feed not in compliance with the provisions and ((~~regulations~~)) rules is subject to seizure on complaint of the department to a court of competent jurisdiction in the area in which the commercial feed is located. If the court finds the commercial feed to be in violation of this chapter and orders the condemnation of the commercial feed, it shall be disposed of in any manner consistent with the quality of the commercial feed and the laws of the state. The court shall first give the claimant an opportunity to apply to the court for release of the commercial feed or for permission to process or relabel the commercial feed to bring it into compliance with this chapter.

Sec. 43. RCW 15.53.9042 and 1965 ex.s. c 31 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall publish at least annually, in such forms as it may deem proper, information concerning the distribution of commercial feed, together with such data on their production and use as it may consider advisable, and a report of the results of the analyses of official samples of commercial feed within the state as compared with the analyses guaranteed ((~~in the registration and~~)) on the label or as calculated from the invoice data for customer-formula feeds: PROVIDED, That the information concerning production and use of commercial feeds shall not disclose the operations of any person.

Sec. 44. RCW 15.53.9053 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 257 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~(1) The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:~~

~~(a) Section 10, chapter 31, Laws of 1965 ex. sess., section 33, chapter 240, Laws of 1967 and RCW 15.53.9026; and~~

~~(b) Sections 11 through 14, chapter 31, Laws of 1965 ex. sess. and RCW 15.53.9028 through 15.53.9034.~~

(2) The enactment of this act and the repeal of the sections listed in subsection (1) of this section shall not have the effect of terminating, or in any way modify any liability, civil or criminal, which shall already be in existence on July 1, 1975.

~~(3)~~)) All licenses and registrations in effect on July 1, ((~~1975~~)) 1995, shall continue in full force and effect until their regular expiration date, December 31, ((~~1975~~)) 1995. No registration or license that has already been paid under the requirements of prior law shall be refunded.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 45. (1) The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(a) Section 10, chapter 31, Laws of 1965 ex. sess., section 33, chapter 240, Laws of 1967 and RCW 15.53.9026; and

(b) Sections 11 through 14, chapter 31, Laws of 1965 ex. sess. and RCW 15.53.9028 through 15.53.9034.

(2) The enactment of chapter 257, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. and the repeal of the sections listed in subsection (1) of this section shall not have the effect of terminating, or in any way modify any liability, civil or criminal, which shall already be in existence on July 1, 1975.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 46. RCW 15.53.9036 and 1989 c 175 s 51, 1975 1st ex.s. c 257 s 6, & 1965 ex.s. c 31 s 15 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 47. RCW 15.53.905 and 15.53.9052 are each decodified.

Sec. 48. RCW 16.57.220 and 1994 c 46 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

The director shall cause a charge to be made for all brand inspection of cattle and horses required under this chapter and rules adopted hereunder. Such charges shall be paid to the department by the owner or person in possession unless requested by the purchaser and then such brand inspection shall be paid by the purchaser requesting such brand inspection. Except as provided by rule, such inspection charges shall be due and payable at the time brand inspection is performed and shall be paid upon billing by the department and if not shall constitute a prior lien on the cattle or cattle hides or horses or horse hides brand inspected until such charge is paid. The director in order to best utilize the services of the department in performing brand inspection may establish schedules by days and hours when a brand inspector will be on duty to perform brand inspection at established inspection points. The fees for brand inspection shall be not less than fifty cents nor more than seventy-five cents per head for cattle and not less than two dollars nor more than three dollars per head for horses as prescribed by the director by rule subsequent to a hearing under chapter 34.05 RCW and in conformance with RCW 16.57.015. Fees for brand inspection of cattle and horses ((~~performed by the director~~)) at points other than those designated by the director or not in accord with the schedules established by the director shall be based on a fee schedule not to exceed actual net cost to the department of performing the brand inspection service. For the purpose of this section, actual costs shall mean fifteen dollars per hour and the current mileage rate set by the office of financial management.

Sec. 49. RCW 16.57.220 and 1994 c 46 s 25 and 1994 c 46 s 19 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

The director shall cause a charge to be made for all brand inspection of cattle and horses required under this chapter and rules adopted hereunder. Such charges shall be paid to the department by the owner or person in possession unless requested by the purchaser and then such brand inspection shall be paid by the purchaser requesting such brand inspection. Except as provided by rule, such inspection charges shall be due and payable at the time brand inspection is performed and shall be paid upon billing by the department and if not shall constitute a prior lien on the cattle or cattle hides or horses or horse hides brand inspected until such charge is paid. The director in order to best utilize the services of the department in performing brand inspection may establish schedules by days and hours when a brand inspector will be on duty to perform brand inspection at established inspection points. The fees for brand inspection performed at inspection points according to schedules established by the director shall be sixty cents per head for cattle and not more than two dollars and forty cents per head for horses as prescribed by the director subsequent to a hearing under chapter 34.05 RCW and in conformance with RCW 16.57.015. Fees for brand inspection of cattle and horses ((~~performed by the director~~)) at points other than those designated by the director or not in accord with the schedules established by the director shall be based on a fee schedule not to exceed actual net cost to the department of performing the brand inspection service. For the purpose of this section, actual costs shall mean fifteen dollars per hour and the current mileage rate set by the office of financial management.

Sec. 50. RCW 16.57.230 and 1959 c 54 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:

No person shall collect or make a charge for brand inspection of livestock unless there has been an actual brand inspection of such livestock ((~~by the director~~)).

Sec. 51. RCW 16.57.240 and 1991 c 110 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

Any person purchasing, selling, holding for sale, trading, bartering, transferring title, slaughtering, handling, or transporting cattle shall keep a record on forms prescribed by the director. Such forms shall show the number, specie, brand or other method of identification of such cattle and any other necessary information required by the director. The original shall be kept for a period of three years or shall be furnished to the director upon demand or as prescribed by rule, one copy shall accompany the cattle to their destination and shall be subject to inspection at any time by the director or any peace officer or member of the state patrol: PROVIDED, That in the following instances only, cattle may be moved or transported within this state without being accompanied by ((a)) an official certificate of permit ((~~or an official~~)), brand inspection certificate ((or)), bill of sale, or self-inspection slip:

(1) When such cattle are moved or transported upon lands under the exclusive control of the person moving or transporting such cattle;

(2) When such cattle are being moved or transported for temporary grazing or feeding purposes and have the registered brand of the person having or transporting such cattle.

Sec. 52. RCW 16.57.280 and 1991 c 110 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

No person shall knowingly have unlawful possession of any livestock marked with a recorded brand or tattoo of another person unless:

(1) Such livestock lawfully bears the person's own healed recorded brand((,)); or

(2) Such livestock is accompanied by a certificate of permit from the owner of the recorded brand or tattoo((,)); or

(3) Such livestock is accompanied by a brand inspection certificate((,)); or

(4) Such cattle is accompanied by a self-inspection slip; or

(5) Such livestock is accompanied by a bill of sale from the previous owner or other satisfactory proof of ownership.

A violation of this section constitutes a gross misdemeanor punishable to the same extent as a gross misdemeanor that is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021.

Sec. 53. RCW 16.57.290 and 1989 c 286 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:

All unbranded cattle and horses and those bearing brands not recorded, in the current edition of this state's brand book, which are not accompanied by a certificate of permit, and those bearing brands recorded, in the current edition of this state's brand book, which are not accompanied by a certificate of permit signed by the owner of the brand when presented for inspection by the director, shall be sold by the director or the director's representative, unless other satisfactory proof of ownership is presented showing the person presenting them to be lawfully in possession. Upon the sale of such cattle or horses, the director or the director's representative shall give the purchasers a bill of sale therefor, or, if theft is suspected, the cattle or horses may be impounded by the director or the director's representative.

Sec. 54. RCW 16.65.030 and 1994 c 46 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) On and after June 10, 1959, no person shall operate a public livestock market without first having obtained a license from the director. Application for such license ((~~or renewal thereof~~)) shall be in writing on forms prescribed by the director, and shall include the following:

(a) A nonrefundable original license application fee of fifteen hundred dollars.

(b) A legal description of the property upon which the public livestock market shall be located.

((~~(b)~~)) (c) A complete description and blueprints or plans of the public livestock market physical plant, yards, pens, and all facilities the applicant proposes to use in the operation of such public livestock market.

((~~(c)~~)) (d) A detailed statement showing all the assets and liabilities of the applicant which must reflect a sufficient net worth to construct or operate a public livestock market.

((~~(d)~~)) (e) The schedule of rates and charges the applicant proposes to impose on the owners of livestock for services rendered in the operation of such livestock market.

((~~(e)~~)) (f) The weekly or monthly sales day or days on which the applicant proposes to operate his or her public livestock market sales.

((~~(f)~~)) (g) Projected source and quantity of livestock, by county, anticipated to be handled.

((~~(g)~~)) (h) Projected income and expense statements for the first year's operation.

((~~(h)~~)) (i) Facts upon which are based the conclusion that the trade area and the livestock industry will benefit because of the proposed market.

((~~(i)~~)) (j) Such other information as the director may reasonably require.

(2) The director shall, after public hearing as provided by chapter 34.05 RCW, grant or deny an application for original license for a public livestock market after considering evidence and testimony relating to all of the requirements of this section and giving reasonable consideration at the same hearing to:

(a) Benefits to the livestock industry to be derived from the establishment and operation of the public livestock market proposed in the application; and

(b) The present market services elsewhere available to the trade area proposed to be served.

(3) ((~~Such application shall be accompanied by a license fee based on the average gross sales volume per official sales day of that market:~~

~~(a) Markets with an average gross sales volume up to and including ten thousand dollars, a fee of no less than one hundred dollars or more than one hundred fifty dollars;~~

(b) Markets with an average gross sales volume over ten thousand dollars and up to and including fifty thousand dollars, a fee of no less than two hundred dollars or more than three hundred fifty dollars; and

~~(c) Markets with an average gross sales volume over fifty thousand dollars, a fee of no less than three hundred dollars or more than four hundred fifty dollars.~~

~~The fees for public livestock market licensees shall be set by the director by rule subsequent to a hearing under chapter 34.05 RCW and in conformance with RCW 16.57.015.~~

(4) Any applicant operating more than one public livestock market shall make a separate application for a license to operate each such public livestock market, and each such application shall be accompanied by the appropriate license fee.

(5) Upon the approval of the application by the director and compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the applicant shall be issued a license or renewal thereof. Any license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall only be valid at location and for the sales day or days for which the license was issued)) Applications for renewal under RCW 16.65.040 shall include all information under subsection (1) of this section, except subsection (1)(a) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 55. 1994 c 46 s 21 is repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 56. A new section is added to chapter 16.65 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Upon the approval of the application by the director and compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the applicant shall be issued a license or renewal thereof. Any license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall only be valid at location and for the sales day or days for which the license was issued.

(2) The license fee shall be based on the average gross sales volume per official sales day of that market:

(a) Markets with an average gross sales volume up to and including ten thousand dollars, a fee of no less than one hundred dollars or more than one hundred fifty dollars;

(c) Markets with an average gross sales volume over fifty thousand dollars, a fee of no less than three hundred dollars or more than four hundred fifty dollars.

The fees for public livestock market licenses shall be set by the director by rule subsequent to a hearing under chapter 34.05 RCW and in conformance with RCW 16.57.015.

(3) Any applicant operating more than one public livestock market shall make a separate application for a license to operate each such public livestock market, and each such application shall be accompanied by the appropriate application fee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 57. A new section is added to chapter 16.65 RCW to read as follows:

(2) The license fee shall be based on the average gross sales volume per official sales day of that market:

(a) Markets with an average gross sales volume up to and including ten thousand dollars, a one hundred twenty dollar fee;

(b) Markets with an average gross sales volume over ten thousand dollars and up to and including fifty thousand dollars, a two hundred forty dollar fee; and

The fees for public market licenses shall be set by the director by rule subsequent to a hearing under chapter 34.05 RCW and in conformance with RCW 16.57.015.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 58. (1) Sections 49 and 57 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1997.

(2) Sections 48 and 56 of this act shall expire July 1, 1997.

Sec. 59. RCW 15.44.033 and 1967 c 240 s 30 are each amended to read as follows:

Producer members of the commission shall be nominated and elected by producers within the district that such producer members represent in the year in which a commission member's term shall expire. Such producer members receiving the largest number of the votes cast in the respective districts which they represent shall be elected. The election shall be by secret mail ballot and under the supervision of the director.

Nomination for candidates to be elected to the commission shall be conducted by mail by the director. Such nomination forms shall be mailed by the director to each producer in a district where a vacancy is about to occur. Such mailing shall be made on or after April 1st, but not later than April 10th of the year the commission vacancy will occur. The nomination form shall provide for the name of the producer being nominated and the names of five producers nominating such nominee. The producers nominating such nominee shall affix their signatures to such form and shall further attest that the said nominee meets the qualifications for a producer member to serve on the commission and that he or she will be willing to serve on the commission if elected.

All nominations as provided for herein shall be returned to the director by April 30th, and the director shall not accept any nomination postmarked later than midnight April 30th, nor place the candidate thereon on the election ballot.

Ballots for electing members to the commission will be mailed by the director to all eligible producers no later than May 15th, in districts where elections are to be held and such ballots to be valid shall be returned postmarked no later than May 31st of the year mailed, to the director in Olympia.

((Whenever producers fail to file any nominating petitions, the director shall nominate at least two, but not more than three, qualified producers and place their names on the secret mail election ballot as nominees: PROVIDED, That any qualified producer may be elected by a write-in ballot, even though said producer's name was not placed in nomination for such election.)) If only one person is nominated for a position on the commission, the director shall determine whether the person possesses the qualifications required by statute for the position and, if the director determines that the person possesses such qualifications, the director shall declare that the person has been duly elected.

Sec. 60. RCW 43.88.240 and 1981 c 225 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless otherwise directed in the commodity commission enabling statute, this chapter shall not apply to the Washington state ((apple advertising commission, the Washington state fruit commission, the Washington tree fruit research commission, the Washington state beef commission, the Washington state dairy products commission, or any agricultural)) commodity commissions created either under separate statute or under the provisions of chapters 15.65 and 15.66 RCW: PROVIDED, That all such commissions shall submit estimates and such other necessary information as may be required for the development of the budget and shall also be subject to audit by the appropriate state auditing agency or officer.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 61. A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

For purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Department" means department of agriculture;

(2) "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons whether or not incorporated.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 62. A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

Except as otherwise specified by law, the director or his or her designee has the authority to retain collection agencies licensed under chapter 19.16 RCW for the purposes of collecting unpaid penalties, assessments, and other debts owed to the department.

The director or his or her designee may also collect as costs moneys paid to the collection agency as charges, or in the case of credit cards or financial instruments, such as checks returned for nonpayment, moneys paid to financial institutions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 63. A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

Except as otherwise specified by law, any due and payable assessment levied under the authority of the director or his or her designee in such specified amount as may be determined by the department shall constitute a personal debt of every person so assessed or who otherwise owes the same, and the same shall be due and payable to the department when payment is called for by the department. In the event any person fails to pay the department the full amount of such assessment or such other sum on or before the date due, the department may, and is hereby authorized to, add to such unpaid assessment or other sum an amount not exceeding ten percent of the same to defray the cost of enforcing the collecting of the same. In the event of failure of such person or persons to pay any such due and payable assessment or other sum, the department may bring a civil action against such person or persons in a court of competent jurisdiction for the collections thereof, including all costs and reasonable attorneys' fees together with the above specified ten percent, and such action shall be tried and judgment rendered as in any other cause of action for debt due and payable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 64. A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

Except as otherwise specified by law, the department is authorized to charge interest at the rate authorized under RCW 43.17.240 for all unpaid balances for moneys owed to the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 65. A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

Except as otherwise specified by law, in the event a check or negotiable instrument as defined by RCW 62A.3-104 is dishonored by nonacceptance or nonpayment, the department is entitled to collect a reasonable handling fee for each instrument. If the check or instrument is not paid within fifteen days and proper notice is sent, the department is authorized to recover the assessment, the handling fee, and any other charges allowed by RCW 62A.3-515.

Sec. 66. RCW 15.58.070 and 1994 c 46 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subsection ((~~(2)~~)) (4) of this section, any person desiring to register a pesticide with the department shall pay to the director an annual registration fee for each pesticide registered by the department for such person. The registration fee for the registration of pesticides for any one person during a calendar year shall be: One hundred five dollars for each of the first twenty-five pesticides registered; one hundred dollars for each of the twenty-sixth through one-hundredth pesticides registered; seventy-five dollars for each of the one hundred first through one hundred fiftieth pesticides registered; and fifty dollars for each additional pesticide registered. In addition, the department may establish by rule a registration fee not to exceed ten dollars for each registered product labeled and intended for home and garden use only.

(2) The revenue generated by the pesticide registration fees shall be deposited in the agricultural local fund to support the activities of the pesticide program within the department. The revenue generated by the home and garden use only fees shall be deposited in the agricultureClocal fund, to be used to assist in funding activities of the pesticide incident reporting and tracking review panel.

(3) All pesticide registrations expire on December 31st of each year. A registrant may elect to register a pesticide for a two-year period by prepaying for a second year at the time of registration.

((~~(2)~~)) (4) A person desiring to register a label where a special local need exists shall pay to the director a nonrefundable application fee of two hundred dollars upon submission of the registration request. In addition, a person desiring to renew an approved special local need registration shall pay to the director an annual registration fee of two hundred dollars for each special local needs label registered by the department for such person. The revenue generated by the special local needs application fees and the special local needs renewal fees shall be deposited in the agricultural local fund to be used to assist in funding the department's special local needs registration activities. All special local needs registrations expire on December 31st of each year.

((~~(3)~~)) (5) Any registration approved by the director and in effect on the 31st day of December for which a renewal application has been made and the proper fee paid, continues in full force and effect until the director notifies the applicant that the registration has been renewed, or otherwise denied in accord with the provision of RCW 15.58.110.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 67. A new section is added to chapter 15.58 RCW to read as follows:

All license fees collected under this chapter shall be paid to the director for use exclusively in the enforcement of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 68. RCW 15.58.410 and 1971 ex.s. c 190 s 41 are each repealed.

Sec. 69. RCW 16.24.130 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 7 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:

The brand inspector shall cause to be published once in a newspaper published in the county where the animal was found, a notice of the impounding.

The notice shall state:

(1) A description of the animal, including brand, tattoo or other identifying characteristics;

(2) When and where found;

(3) Where impounded; and

(4) That if unclaimed, the animal will be sold at a public livestock market sale or other public sale, and the date of such sale: PROVIDED, That if no newspaper shall be published in such county, copies of the notice shall be posted at four commonly frequented places therein.

If the animal is marked with a brand or tattoo which is registered with the director of agriculture, the brand inspector, on or before the date of publication or posting, shall send a copy of the notice to the owner of record by registered mail.

Sec. 70. RCW 16.24.150 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 7 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

If no person shall claim the animal within ten days after the date of publication or posting of the notice, it shall be sold at the next succeeding public livestock market sale to be held at the sales yard where impounded, provided that in the director's discretion the department of agriculture may otherwise cause the animal to be sold at public sale.

The legislature intends this to be a clarification of existing law; therefore, this section shall have retroactive effect as of December 1, 1994.

Sec. 71. RCW 15.76.140 and 1965 ex.s. c 32 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Before any agricultural fair may become eligible for state allocations it must have conducted two successful consecutive annual fairs immediately preceding application for such allocations, and have its application therefor approved by the director.

(2) Beginning January 1,1994, and until June 30, 1997, the director may waive this requirement for an agricultural fair that through itself or its predecessor sponsoring organization has successfully operated at least two years as a county fair, has received a funding allocation as a county fair under this act for those two years, and that reorganizes as an area fair.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 72. The legislature finds that in Washington, the loss of state lands from productive use due to infestation by noxious weeds is a major public concern.

It is the intent of the legislature that serious and fundamental policy direction be given to state agencies to:

(1) Ensure that state lands set an example of excellence in noxious weed control and eradication on state lands;

(2) Halt the spread of noxious weeds from state to private lands;

(3) Recognize that state agencies are ultimately responsible for noxious weed control on state land, regardless of type, timing, or amount of use;

(4) Recognize that the public is not well served by the spread of noxious weeds on state lands, in part, because of the decrease in wildlife habitat and loss of land productivity.

The legislature further finds that biological control agents represent one of the only cost-effective control measures for existing, widespread noxious weed infestations. Members of the genus Centaurea, commonly referred to as knapweeds, currently infest and destroy the productivity of hundreds of thousands of acres in Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 73. The state noxious weed control board shall develop a study to determine the cost of controlling weeds on state-owned or managed lands, included along state-owned rights of way. The board may conduct the study, or may contract with either public or private agencies to conduct and complete the study. The departments of natural resources, transportation, and fish and wildlife, and the parks and recreation commission shall cooperate with the weed board or the contractor in the study.

As part of the study, the state noxious weed control board shall identify those weed species that are practical to control and should be controlled. The board shall also identify the impacts and estimate the costs of not controlling these weeds. The board may exclude from the study those weeds that, due to high cost or impracticality, cannot be controlled on private lands. The board shall develop a prioritized list of weeds that are practical to control and that should be controlled on state-owned and managed lands.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 74. The state noxious weed control board shall study alternative funding mechanisms for Washington's noxious weed control program. The departments of natural resources, transportation, and fish and wildlife, and the parks and recreation commission shall cooperate with the weed board in the study. As part of the study, the state noxious weed control board shall identify the impacts and costs of each alternative. Funding alternatives shall address weed control needs of private citizens, local governments, county weed boards, state agencies, the state noxious weed control board, and federal agencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 75. A new section is added to chapter 17.10 RCW to read as follows:

All state agencies shall control noxious weeds on lands they own, lease, or otherwise control. Agencies shall develop plans to control noxious weeds in accordance with standards in this chapter. All state agencies' lands must comply with this chapter, regardless of noxious weed control efforts on adjacent lands. County noxious weed control boards shall assist landowners to meet and exceed the standards on state lands.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 76. (1) The standing committee on agriculture and agricultural trade and development of the senate and the standing committee on agriculture and ecology of the house of representatives shall jointly study land leasing practices of state agencies in regard to weed control and report their findings to the legislature in 1996.

(2) State agencies shall list noxious weed control projects in their respective jurisdictions in order of priority, along with their plans to control these infestations, and shall submit the lists and plans to the legislative committees identified in subsection (1) of this section before the beginning of the 1996 regular session of the legislature.

Sec. 77. RCW 17.10.240 and 1987 c 438 s 31 are each amended to read as follows:

The activated county noxious weed control board of each county shall annually submit a budget to the county legislative authority for the operating cost of the county's weed program for the ensuing fiscal year: PROVIDED, That if the board finds the budget approved by the legislative authority is insufficient for an effective county noxious weed control program it shall petition the county legislative authority to hold a hearing as provided in RCW 17.10.890. Control of weeds is a special benefit to the lands within any such section. Funding for the budget shall be derived from ((~~either or both~~)) any or all of the following:

(1) The county legislative authority may, in lieu of a tax, levy an assessment against the land for this purpose. Prior to the levying of an assessment the county noxious weed control board shall hold a public hearing at which it shall gather information to serve as a basis for classification and shall then classify the lands into suitable classifications, including but not limited to dry lands, range lands, irrigated lands, nonuse lands, forest lands, or federal lands. The board shall develop and forward to the county legislative authority, as a proposed level of assessment for each class, such an amount as shall seem just. The assessment rate shall be either uniform per acre in its respective class or a flat rate per parcel rate plus a uniform rate per acre: PROVIDED, That if no special benefits should be found to accrue to a class of land, a zero assessment may be levied. The legislative authority, upon receipt of the proposed levels of assessment from the board, after a hearing, shall accept, modify, or refer back to the board for its reconsideration all or any portion of the proposed levels of assessment. The findings by the county legislative authority of such special benefits, when so declared by resolution and spread upon the minutes of said authority shall be conclusive as to whether or not the same constitutes a special benefit to the lands within the section. The amount of such assessment shall constitute a lien against the property. The county legislative authority may by resolution or ordinance require that notice of the lien be sent to each owner of property for which the assessment has not been paid by the date it was due and that each such lien created shall be collected by the treasurer in the same manner as delinquent real property tax, if within thirty days from the date the owner is sent notice of the lien, including the amount thereof, the lien remains unpaid and an appeal has not been made pursuant to RCW 17.10.180. Liens treated as delinquent taxes shall bear interest at the rate of twelve percent per annum and such interest shall accrue as of the date notice of the lien is sent to the owner: PROVIDED FURTHER, That any collections for such lien shall not be considered as tax; or

(2) The county legislative authority may appropriate money from the county general fund necessary for the administration of the county noxious weed control program. In addition the county legislative authority may make emergency appropriations as it deems necessary for the implementation of this chapter.

(3) Forest lands used solely for the planting, growing, or harvesting of trees and which are typified, except during a single period of five years following clear-cut logging, by canopies so dense as to prohibit growth of an understory may be subject to an annual noxious weed assessment levied by a county legislative authority that shall not exceed one-tenth of the weighted average per acre noxious weed assessment levied on all other lands in unincorporated areas within the county that are subject to the weed assessment. This assessment shall be computed in accordance with the formula in subsection (4) of this section.

(4) The calculation of the "weighted average per acre noxious weed assessment" shall be a ratio expressed as follows: (a) The numerator shall be the total amount of funds estimated to be collected from the per acre assessment on all lands except (i) forest lands as identified in subsection (3) of this section, (ii) lands exempt from the noxious weed assessment, and (iii) lands located in an incorporated area. (b) The denominator shall be the total acreage from which funds in (a) of this subsection are collected. For lands of less than one acre in size, the denominator calculation may be based on the following assumptions: (i) Unimproved lands shall be calculated as being one-half acre in size on the average, and (ii) improved lands shall be calculated as being one-third acre in size on the average. The county legislative authority may choose to calculate the denominator for lands of less than one acre in size using other assumptions about average parcel size based on local information.

(5) For those counties that levy a per parcel assessment to help fund noxious weed control programs, the per parcel assessment on forest lands as defined in subsection (3) of this section shall not exceed one-tenth of the per parcel assessment on nonforest lands.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 78. The sum of thirty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, to Washington State University for the use of the cooperative extension service in the selection, testing, and production of biological control agents for knapweed species on the state noxious weed list adopted under RCW 17.10.080, with the intent of improving field availability of these agents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 79. The sum of twenty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, to the state noxious weed control board to study, or contract for a study, on the cost of controlling weeds on state-owned or managed lands.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 80. Sections 8 through 19 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 69 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 81. Sections 1 through 47, 50 through 53, and 59 through 68 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 30, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 82. Sections 69, 70, and 72 through 79 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.