S-1890.1_______________________________________________

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5897

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State of Washington57th Legislature2001 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Agriculture & International Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Shin, Parlette, Hale, Hewitt and Kohl-Welles)

READ FIRST TIME 02/27/01.

AN ACT Relating to international marketing of agriculture; adding a new chapter to Title 15 RCW; and making appropriations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the growing and processing of food and agricultural products is the dominant industry in Washington state and a major employer in rural Washington. The legislature also finds that agriculture is a critical component of Washington's international trade industry, accounting for billions of dollars in exports every year.

The legislature further finds that the export market for Washington's agricultural products has dropped significantly in recent years and that such a drop has negatively impacted the economy in Washington's agricultural regions. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to enhance Washington's international trade of agricultural products by increasing funding for the Washington state department of agriculture's international marketing program in an effort to promote marketing of Washington's products and to assist the agricultural industry in efforts to reduce trade barriers that stand in the way of trade in new and emerging markets.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. There is created a market development and promotion matching fund program within the Washington state department of agriculture. The purpose of the program is to allow the department of agriculture and the agricultural industry to combine funds in order to enhance access to markets that are growth sales areas for the industry's product. The goal of the program is to expose buyers to Washington's diverse agricultural products. The agriculture industry may bring in buying missions, perform trade promotions in various markets, hire overseas contractors, and perform other marketing functions that help it target the correct buyer and market for its product.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the purposes of the marketing development and promotion matching fund program created in section 2 of this act.

(2) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the purposes of the marketing development and promotion matching fund program created in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The legislature finds that trade barriers have become an increasingly important issue in the agricultural arena. Further, the world trade organization highlighted the need for "a fair and level playing field." The legislature finds that both large and small commodity groups need adequate resources to address trade barrier issues.

(2) There is created within the department of agriculture a trade barrier matching fund program to assist agriculture industries in fighting trade barriers. The purpose of the program is to allow the department of agriculture and the agricultural industry to combine funds in order to address trade barriers issues impacting the agricultural industry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the purposes of the trade barrier matching fund program created in section 4 of this act.

(2) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the purposes of the trade barrier matching fund program created in section 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The Washington state department of agriculture finds that there is a need for an eastern Washington trade specialist, along with administrative support. The goal of this specialist is to allow the department of agriculture to provide greater service and work more in-depth with all agricultural groups.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) The sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the purposes of section 6 of this act.

(2) The sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the purposes of section 6 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The department of agriculture shall provide a biennial report to the legislature of each of the activities that received funding assistance under this chapter and the results of each of those activities. The report shall include an estimate of the amount of increased sales of state-produced agricultural products, and the amount of state, commodity commission, and other funds that were utilized for each activity. The report shall be transmitted to the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the house of representatives by December 15th of each even-numbered year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The department of agriculture may adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 15 RCW.

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