FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1780

C 92 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Concerning moneys in the fruit and vegetable district fund.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Armstrong, Linville, B. Chandler and Grant.

House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology

Senate Committee on Agriculture & International Trade

Background:

State law requires the director of Agriculture to establish standards and grades for apples, apricots, Italian prunes, peaches, sweet cherries, pears, potatoes and asparagus and allows the director to establish them for other fruits and vegetables.  For the purposes of these laws, the state is divided into not less than three fruit and vegetable inspection districts.  The fees collected for inspection services are deposited in a district fund, which is used as a revolving fund to carry out services within the district.  Some of the monies in the district fund are also transferred to the state Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Trust Account.

In 1997, legislation authorized a transfer of $200,000 in District Number Two funds to the Plant Pest Account for activities related to apple maggot control.  Funds from this transfer that are unexpended by June 30, 2001, are to be returned to the district fund.

Summary:

The date by which monies transferred from the district fund of District Number Two must be expended from the Plant Pest Account for apple maggot control activities or be returned to the district fund is extended by two years to June 30, 2003.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate450

Effective:  June 30, 2001