SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6257

              As Passed Senate, February 15, 2000

Title:  An act relating to fresh fruit sales.

Brief Description:  Repealing the Washington fresh fruit sales limitation act.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Morton and Stevens.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Rural Economic Development:  1/31/2000 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/15/2000, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Gardner, Honeyford, Morton, Prentice, Snyder, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  David Johnson (786-7754)

Background:  Enacted in 1965, the Fresh Fruit Sales Limitation Act makes it unlawful for sellers to limit the amount of fresh fruit that can be purchased when the fruit is offered for sale below the seller's cost.  The limitation was originally designed to prevent predatory "loss leader" pricing of a perishable commodity by large chain stores.

There is no available record of the enforcement of this law.

Summary of Bill:  The Fresh Fruit Sales Limitation Act is repealed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The act hasn=t been enforced and is probably unenforceable.  The concerns that prompted the act are no longer a problem.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jim Halstrom, WA State Horticultural Assn. (pro).