ANALYSIS OF HB 2172

House Agriculture & Ecology Committee                                        March 3, 1997

BACKGROUND:

In 1994, a pollination service fee was established by statute.  It is levied on the use, by growers of agricultural crops, of bee pollination services provided by others.  The fee is in the amount of 50 cents for each setting of each hive containing a colony that is used by the grower.  The fee is paid by the grower using the service, collected by the beekeeper, and remitted to the Department of Agriculture.  All such fees are deposited in the Industry Apiary Program Account and revenues from the fees are to be used in providing services to the apiary industry that assist in ensuring the vitality and availability of bees for commercial pollination services for the agricultural industry.  (RCW 15.60.040(1).)

SUMMARY:

The pollination service fee is repealed.