ANALYSIS OF SSB 5799

House Agriculture & Ecology Committee                                        March 20, 1997

BACKGROUND:

State law authorizes the Director of Agriculture to establish a fee-for-service program to provide, upon request, services to growers and other interested parties for special inspections, pest or plant identifications, plant diagnostic services, and other special certifications and activities needed to facilitate the movement or sale of plant products or bees and related products.  Monies collected from providing these services are deposited in the Plant Pest Account in the Agricultural Local Fund.  Monies from the account are used, without appropriation, to provide these services on a revolving account basis.  (RCW 17.24.131.)

The horticultural laws establish or authorize the Director of Agriculture to establish standards and grades for horticultural plants and products.  (Chapter 15.17 RCW.)  For the purposes of these laws, the state is divided into no less that three horticultural inspection districts to which the Director assigns inspectors-at-large.  (RCW 15.17.230.)  These inspectors provide inspection services on behalf of the Director.  The fees they collect for these services are deposited in an Horticultural District Fund in the district.  The district fund is used on a revolving account basis by the inspectors to defray their expenses for providing the services.  Some of the monies in the district fund are also to be transferred to the state Horticulture Inspection Trust Fund.  (RCW 15.17.240.)  The state fund is used to reimburse certain expenses for the horticulture program incurred at the state level and for making certain refundable transfers to district funds.  (RCW 15.04.100.)  If, at the end of the fiscal year, there are monies in the district fund beyond those needed to defray expenses from that fiscal year, the excess is to be used to reduce the fees charged for services in the succeeding fiscal year.  (RCW 15.17.250.)

By rule, Horticultural Inspection District 2 is made up of Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, Yakima, and the Prosser, Kiona, and Benton City portion of Benton County.  (WAC 16-458-075.)

SUMMARY:

From monies in the district fund derived from state inspections of tree fruits, the inspector for Horticultural Inspection District 2 may transfer $200,000 to the Plant Pest Account.  The transferred monies are to be used solely for activities related to the control of apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella) in the district.  The transfer is to take place by June, 1, 1997.  Any portion of this amount that is unexpended by June 30, 1999, is to be returned to the district fund.  (Section 1.)  Among the services the Director of Agriculture may provide through the use of the Plant Pest Account are pest control activities. In lieu of fees, funds deposited in the Plant Pest Account may be disbursed to provide services.  (Section 2.)

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.