SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6508

As Passed Senate, February 14, 2002

Title:  An act relating to registering pesticides.

Brief Description:  Registering pesticides.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Swecker and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & International Trade:  1/30/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/14/02, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Sheahan, Snyder, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786‑7404)

Background:  Each year, pesticide registrations must be renewed at a cost of $145.  Registration fees are paid to the Department of Agriculture.

Summary of Bill:  Pesticide registrations are renewed every two years at a cost of $290.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains two effective dates to provide a phase-in to the two-year registration period.

Testimony For:  Going to a two-year registration period worked well for fertilizers and should work well for pesticide registrations.  It will reduce annual paperwork requirements and costs incurred by the agency and the private sector.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Ted Maxwell, WA Dept. of Agriculture; Heather Hanson, WA Friends of Farms and Forests; Leslie Emerick, WSDA.

House Amendment(s):  The effective date for sections of the bill regarding registration renewal date and late renewal fees is January 1, 2003, which is the date the biennial registration program begins.