HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 6079
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. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Title: An act relating to extending the dairy inspection program assessment expiration date.
Brief Description: Extending the dairy inspection program assessment expiration date.
Sponsors: Senators Hatfield and Honeyford; by request of Department of Agriculture.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Agriculture & Natural Resources: 2/21/14, 2/25/14 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Blake, Chair; Lytton, Vice Chair; Buys, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Dunshee, Haigh, Hurst, Kretz, Orcutt, Pettigrew, Schmick, Stanford, Van De Wege and Warnick.
Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7291) and Jason Callahan (786-7117).
Background:
"Grade A" Interstate Pasteurized Milk Ordinance.
The assessment levied on milk processors supports an inspection program to maintain compliance with the "Grade A" Interstate Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) published by the United States Public Health Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Food and Drug Administration. The PMO is the national standard for milk sanitation, and it requires milk processing plants to be inspected at least once every three months. Complying with the PMO allows milk to move without restriction in interstate commerce.
Milk Processing Assessment.
Assessments are levied on the first milk processing plant that receives milk for processing. The assessment is paid to a dairy inspection account under the Agricultural Local Fund, and the funds are used for dairy inspection services under the WSDA's food safety program. The assessment is 53.5 hundredths of 1 cent per hundredweight.
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Summary of Bill:
The expiration date for the dairy inspection program assessment is extended from June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2020.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The bill extends the dairy inspection program assessment. It does not increase or decrease the assessment, it purely allows the program to continue to maintain compliance with the National Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. The bill allows the WSDA to inspect the processors and that allows the processors to do what they do best, which is process around five billion pounds of milk a year. The money goes into the WSDA's food safety division to fund the inspections.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Mark Streuli, Washington State Department of Agriculture; and Ben Buchholz, Darigold and the National Dairy Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.