SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6131

              As Passed Senate, February 11, 1998

Title:  An act relating to sanitary control of shellfish.

Brief Description:  Regulating sanitary control of shellfish.

Sponsors:  Senators Oke, Snyder and Swecker; by request of Department of Health.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks: 1/15/98, 1/20/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/11/98, 43-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Prentice, Roach, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  When the Department of Health rescinds a license of a shellfish grower for violations of public health rules and public health laws, the grower must cease operations until the operations can come into compliance and provide adequate health protection for the public.  The Department of Health has found that when a certificate of operation is revoked, license holders can continue to operate by having a relative or friend hold the license rather than the actual owner or operator of the shellfish company.

Summary of Bill:  A person whose license or certificate of approval is denied, revoked or suspended by the Department of Health as a result of health violations may not serve as the person in charge of, be employed by, manage or otherwise participate in a shellfish operation licensed or certified by the Department of Health.  It is illegal for a person whose license or certificate of approval is denied, revoked or suspended to participate in the harvesting, shucking, packing, or shipping or shellfish in commercial quantities for sale for human consumption.  The prohibition applies only during the period of time in which the person=s license or certificate of approval is denied, revoked or suspended.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested

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

Testimony For:  This is necessary to close a loophole in present law so that the few people who lose their licenses cannot continue to operate and endanger public health.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bill Taylor, Pacific Coast Oyster Growers Association; Maryanne Guichard, Department of Health.