HB 2290-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

     Creates the fruit and vegetable inspection account in the custody of the state treasurer.  All fees collected under this chapter must be deposited into the account.  Expenditures from the  account may be used for implementation and enforcement of this chapter or other legislatively authorized activity.  The director of agriculture may authorize expenditures from the account.  The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

     Requires the director to establish and maintain accounts within the fruit and vegetable inspection account for each district established under RCW 15.17.230.

     Reduces the number of inspection districts in the state from three to two.

     Directs the department of agriculture and the office of financial management to jointly examine the administrative support provided by the department to the fruit and vegetable inspection program conducted in the fruit and vegetable inspection districts and the funding provided by fruit and vegetable inspection fees, and interest on any moneys derived from those fees, for the administration of the department.

     Provides that, if fruit and vegetable inspection districts that existed on January 1, 2002, under RCW 15.17.230 are consolidated or otherwise altered during 2002, the consolidation or alteration must not result in a reduction of inspection services or the availability or quality of those services in any of the districts, but may result in a consolidation of administrative support for those services.

     Repeals RCW 15.17.245.