SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6465

As Passed Senate, February 16, 2004

Title: An act relating to extending the expiration date of the dairy inspection program assessment.

Brief Description: Extending the expiration date of the dairy inspection program assessment.

Sponsors: Senators Swecker and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Agriculture: 1/27/04, 1/29/04 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/16/04, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Swecker, Chair; Brandland, Vice Chair; Jacobsen, Rasmussen and Sheahan.

Staff: Bob Lee (786-7404)

Background: The milk inspection program is funded by a combination of state general fund dollars and an assessment on fluid milk. The maximum rate of assessment is 0.54 cents per hundredweight.

Current authority of the Department of Agriculture for the assessment expires on June 30, 2005.

Summary of Bill: The authority for the Department of Agriculture to collect an assessment on fluid milk is extended until June 30, 2010.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: There is consensus within the dairy industry to support the extension of this assessment so that inspections by the Department of Agriculture will continue to meet the requirements of the federal agencies.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Chris Cheney, Dairy Federation (pro).