H-1946.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2055
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Chandler and Linville
Read first time 02/18/97. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.
AN ACT Relating to fees for the state's organic certification program; and amending RCW 15.86.070.
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.
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