Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government |
HB 1889
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning the fruit and vegetable district fund.
Sponsors: Representatives Chandler and Blake.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/23/13
Staff: Michael Bennion (786-7118).
Background:
Fruit and Vegetable District Funds
The Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Account (Inspection Account) contains all fees collected by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to recover the costs of inspections or certifications of fruits and vegetables. Funds in the Inspection Account are to be used for the WSDA's Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program.
Washington is divided into two fruit and vegetable inspection districts. Each district has an individual district fund within the larger Inspection Account. If the district fund contains a certain amount of money, the inspection fees for that district are reduced.
Plant Pest Account
The Plant Pest Account (Pest Account) is used by the WSDA as a receptacle for any fees collected for special inspections, plant diagnostic services, pest control activities, or special certifications requested by growers, farmers, or other interested parties. These services may be requested of the WSDA to facilitate the movement or sale of various agricultural products, including forest products, floricultural products, and horticultural products.
Rhagoletis Pomonella Control
Horticultural pest and disease boards are formed at the county level to do control work for pests that impact commercial fruit crops. The WSDA performs surveys to detect the presence of pests but the control work is performed by the local horticultural pest and disease boards.
Rhagoletis pomonella, commonly referred to as the apple maggot, but also known as the railroad worm, is a native insect to North America. It is considered to be a pest of several fruits, including apples, and there is concern about the impact that the apple maggot would have on the commercial fruit crop.
In 1997, $200,000 of tree fruit inspection fees collected in one of the fruit and vegetable inspection districts was transferred from the Inspection Account to the Pest Account. In 2009, the Legislature authorized the same district to transfer an additional $150,000 with the stipulation that any amount still available as of June 30, 2013, must be transferred back to the Inspection Account and credited to the fruit and vegetable inspection district which contains Yakima County. Monies from both transfers were required to be used for the control of Rhagoletis pomonella within the district.
Summary of Bill:
An additional $150,000 is authorized to be transferred from the Inspection Account to the Pest Account by September 1, 2013. The funds involved in this transfer must originate from tree fruit inspection fees collected in one of the fruit and vegetable inspection districts, and the funds must be used for the control of Rhagoletis pomonella within the district. The fruit and vegetable inspection district affected by the transfer include Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, Yakima, Pacific, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Asotin, Whitman, and Garfield counties.
The purposes of the transfer expire on July 1, 2020 and the reference to where unexpended portions of the transfer are placed is removed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on 02/16/2013.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.