H-2262.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1528

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by Representatives Chandler, Clements and Linville; by request of Department of Agriculture)

Read first time 03/03/97.

Authorizing fees for the department of agriculture.

    AN ACT Relating to authorizing fees for commodity commissions and the department of agriculture; amending RCW 15.86.070; and adding a new section to chapter 43.23 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 15.86.070 and 1992 c 71 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The director may adopt rules establishing a certification program for producers, processors, and vendors of organic or transition to organic food.  The rules may govern, but are not limited to governing:  The number and scheduling of on-site visits, both announced and unannounced, by certification personnel; recordkeeping requirements; and the submission of product samples for chemical analysis.  The rules shall include a fee schedule that will provide for the recovery of the full cost of the organic food program.  Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in an account within the agricultural local fund and the revenue from such fees shall be used solely for carrying out the provisions of this section, and no appropriation is required for disbursement from the fund.  The director may employ such personnel as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(2) The fees established under this section may be increased in excess of the fiscal growth factor as provided in RCW 43.135.055 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

    The director may collect moneys to recover the reasonable costs of publishing and disseminating informational materials by the department.  Materials may be disseminated in printed or electronic format.  All moneys collected shall be deposited in the agricultural local fund or other appropriate fund administered by the director.

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