Brief Description: Concerning registration fees for weighing and measuring devices.

Sponsors: Representatives Hasegawa, Santos, Ahern, McIntire, Ormsby and McDermott.

Hearing Date: 2/18/05

Staff: Meg Van Schoorl (786-7105).

Background:

Every weighing and measuring instrument used for commercial purposes in this State must be registered annually. Examples of such instruments include grocery scales, gas pumps, vehicle scales, and taxi meters. The devices may be registered with the Department of Agriculture (Department) Weights and Measures Program or they may be registered with a city, if they are used within a city that has a sealer and a weights and measures program. Currently, only the cities of Seattle and Spokane operate such programs.

Annual weights and measures registration fees are set in statute. Cities with weights and measures programs may establish their own annual fees as long as they do not exceed the statutory fee schedule. The City of Seattle's weights and measures program budget is approximately $210,000. The City collects about $37,500 in registration fees, and the balance of the program costs are paid out of the general fund. The City of Spokane's weights and measures program budget is approximately $168,000. The City collects about $15,000 in registration fees, with the balance of program costs paid out of the general fund.

Summary of Bill:

Registration fees charged by a city that operates a weights and measures program may not exceed the city's total costs of enforcing and administering the program, but they may exceed the fees that are set in statute for the Department.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.