Title: An act relating to fruit and vegetable district fund.

Brief Description: Concerning the fruit and vegetable district fund.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen and Schoesler.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Agriculture & Rural Economic Development: 2/8/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5488 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Schoesler, Ranking Minority Member; Delvin, Jacobsen, Morton and Sheldon.

Staff: Bob Lee (786-7404)

Background: The Department of Agriculture inspects fruits and vegetables and collects inspection fees. The fees are placed into a fruit and vegetable district fund for use in the region that the inspections are performed.

In 1997, legislation was first enacted that authorized a transfer of $200,000 in District Number Two funds derived from fees collected from the inspection of tree fruits to the Plant Pest Account for activities related to apple maggot control. Funds from this transfer that are unexpended by June 30, 2005, are to be returned to the district fund.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The date by which monies transferred from the fund of District Number Two must be expended from the Plant Pest Account for apple maggot control activities or be returned to the district fund is extended by four years to June 30, 2009.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill extends the authority for an additional four year period rather than two years as in the original bill.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: There is an active insect trapping program to detect the presence of apple maggot in the state's fruit growing areas. If Washington were to lose its apple maggot free status, it would inhibit the export of our fruit in international trade. This authorization provides for contingency funding in case apple maggot was found and action was needed to initiate an immediate control program.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Leslie Emerick, Department of Agriculture; Dave DeCharme, Yakima Valley Growers and Shippers Assn.