SB 6254-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     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 an account within the fruit and vegetable inspection account for each district established under RCW 15.17.230.

     Reduces state inspection districts from three to two.

     Provides that any residual balance in any fruit and vegetable district fund on the effective date of this act shall be transferred to the fruit and vegetable inspection account established in RCW 15.17.240.

     Provides that any residual balance in the fruit and vegetable inspection trust account on the effective date of this act shall be transferred to the fruit and vegetable inspection account established in RCW 15.17.240 and shall be equally distributed among the district accounts.

     Declares 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 alternation 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.