HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5659

                  As Passed House‑Amended:

                       April 8,  1997

Title:  An act relating to the beef commission.

Brief Description:  Regulating the beef commission.

Sponsors:  Senator Morton.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  3/24/97, 3/27/97 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed House-Amended:  4/8/97, 97‑0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Parlette, Vice Chairman; Schoesler, Vice Chairman; Linville, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper; Delvin; Koster; Mastin; Regala and Sump.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:  The Washington State Beef Commission was established to provide programs to increase beef consumption; develop more efficient production, processing, and marketing practices for the beef industry; identify beef products regarding quality and origin; and eliminate transportation inequities faced by the industry.  The members of the Beef Commission are appointed by the director of Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and serve three-year terms of office.  A representative of the WSDA serves as a nonvoting member of the commission.

Before July 1993, the commission had 10 voting members: three beef producers, two dairy (beef) producers, three feeders, one livestock saleyard operator, and one meat packer.  In 1993, the voting membership of the commission was reduced to five: one beef producer, one dairy (beef) producer, one feeder, one stockyard operator, and one meat packer.

Summary of Bill:  The voting membership of the beef commission is increased to eight members: two beef producers, two dairy (beef) producers, two feeders, one stockyard operator, and one meat packer.  An otherwise voting member of the commission who is the chair of the commission may vote only to break a tie vote.  The initial term of the additional beef producer member terminates in 1998, the initial term of the additional dairy beef producer member terminates in 1999, and the initial term of the additional feeder member terminates in 2000.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  (1) The bill will actually save the commission money;  the commission currently has to cancel and reschedule meetings because it is difficult to get a working quorum of members.  (2) The current chair of the commission does not cast votes, so the provisions limiting voting would not change current practice.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Karla Fullerton, Washington Cattlemen=s Association (in favor).