S-1205.1_______________________________________________

SENATE BILL 5897

_______________________________________________

State of Washington57th Legislature2001 Regular Session

By Senators Rasmussen, Shin, Parlette, Hale, Hewitt and Kohl-Welles

Read first time 02/07/2001. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & International Trade.

AN ACT Relating to international marketing of agriculture; creating new sections; 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 hire a contractor for markets that are growth sales areas for a certain sector of 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, 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. Trade barriers have become an increasingly important issue in the agricultural arena. The world trade organization highlighted the need for "a fair and level playing field." In the Washington state department of agriculture's experience, both large and small commodity groups need money to address this issue. There is created within the department of agriculture a trade barrier matching fund program to assist agriculture industries in fighting trade barriers. It is within the sole discretion of the department of agriculture as to how funds are to be distributed under this program.

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. This trade specialist must be based in Moses Lake, Washington. 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. The administrative support position must assist in arranging meetings for in-bound buying missions, making travel arrangements, helping with computer needs, assisting companies when they call for help, and general office work.

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.

--- END ---