SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5077

               As Passed Senate, March 18, 1997

Title:  An act relating to integrated pest management.

Brief Description:  Requiring integrated pest management.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Agriculture & Environment (originally sponsored by Senators Morton, Rasmussen, Newhouse and Loveland).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Environment:  1/30/97, 2/20/97 [DPS-WM, DNPS].

Ways & Means:  3/6/97 [DPS (AE)].

Passed Senate, 3/18/97, 37-12.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5077 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Morton, Chair; Newhouse, Oke and Rasmussen.

Minority Report:  Do not pass substitute.

  Signed by Senators Fraser and McAuliffe.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786-7404)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5077 as recommended by Committee on Agriculture & Environment be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Hochstatter, Long, Loveland, McDonald, Roach, Rossi, Sheldon, Snyder, Swecker, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  Cathy Baker (786-7708)

Background:  In 1991 the State of Oregon enacted legislation that required state agencies and institutions of higher education that have pest control responsibilities to implement an integrated pest management program.

The Council on Agriculture and the Environment developed a recommended definition of integrated pest management last summer.  Members of the council provided a report to legislative committees during the interim.

Summary of Bill:  Integrated pest management is defined.  A policy is established for state agencies and institutions of higher education who have pest control responsibilities to implement integrated pest management responsibilities.  Each enumerated state agency and college must provide training in integrated pest management to employees who have pest management responsibilities.  Each of the enumerated agencies and colleges must designate an integrated pest management coordinator.  Each designated coordinator serves on the Interagency Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee.  The coordinating committee must meet at least two time per year.

The Department of Agriculture is to serve as chair to the coordinating committee and must provide a report to the Legislature once every biennium on the progress of the integrated pest management program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For (Agriculture & Environment):  State agencies and colleges should adopt and follow principals of integrated pest management  to assure that pesticides are used only when warranted.  Private entities are using integrated pest management and so should state agencies and institutions of higher education.

Testimony Against (Agriculture & Environment):  There will be an additional cost to state agencies and institutions of higher education associated with following integrated pest management procedures.

Testified (Agriculture & Environment):  Robert Berger (pro); Ted Alby (pro); Bruce Jennings, Ph.D., Northwest Coalition for Alternative to Pesticides (pro w/amend.); Ray Shindler, WA Friends of Farms & Forests, WA Association of Wheat Growers, WA Cranberry Alliance (pro); Sheila Sandwick; John Perkins (pro); Karen McDonell; Karen van Dusen, UW (con); Mary Beth Lang, Dept. of Agriculture.

Testimony For (Ways & Means):  State agencies and colleges should adopt and follow principals of integrated pest management  to assure that pesticides are used only when warranted.  Private entities are using integrated pest management and so should state agencies and institutions of higher education.  Practicing integrated pest management will ultimately  reduce state costs.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means):  None.

Testified (Ways & Means):  Senator Morton, prime sponsor (pro); Ted Alby (pro); Ray Shindler, Friends of Farms & Forests, WA Association of Wheat Growers (pro).

House Amendment(s):  If a specific appropriation is not provided in the budget, the three sections that require state agencies to implement integrated pest management are null and void.  However, the definition of integrated pest management is retained.