SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5781
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Agriculture & International Trade, February 23, 2001
Title: An act relating to the fruit and vegetable district fund.
Brief Description: Concerning moneys in the fruit and vegetable district fund.
Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Honeyford, T. Sheldon and Swecker.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Agriculture & International Trade: 2/14/01, 2/23/01 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Sheahan, Spanel and Swecker.
Staff: Bob Lee (786‑7404)
Background: The Department of Agriculture administers a number of commodity inspection services which are funded on a fee-for-service basis. Fees collected for the inspection of horticultural products are deposited in the horticultural inspection account in the agricultural local fund. This fund is not subject to legislative appropriation.
Horticultural Inspection District 2 is made up of Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, Yakima, and a portion of Benton County.
In 1997, concern emerged about a potential infestation of apple maggot in the Yakima Basin which could affect the ability to export apples abroad. As a result, the Legislature authorized $200,000 in monies transferred from the horticultural inspection account for District 2 to the plant pest account. The funds may be used solely for activities related to the control of apple maggot. Any funds not expended by the end of the biennium were to be returned to the fruit and vegetable district fund.
In 1999, a bill was passed to extend the authorization through June 30, 2001.
Summary of Bill: The authorization to use the unexpended funds transferred to the plant pest account for control of apple maggot (rhagoletis pomonella) is extended for an additional two-year period until June 30, 2003.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The continued use of these funds is important to be prepared to control pests especially with the increase in abandoned orchards.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Leslie Ementa, Washington State Department of Agriculture; Dave Ducharme, Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association.