Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Appropriations Committee |
HB 1620
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: Increasing the surcharge to fund biotoxin testing and monitoring.
Sponsors: Representatives Tharinger, Fey, Lytton, Van De Wege, Stanford, Fitzgibbon, Walkinshaw, Cody, Pollet and Jinkins; by request of Department of Health.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 2/4/15
Staff: Mary Mulholland (786-7391).
Background:
In 2009 the Legislature created the Biotoxin Account administered by the Department of Health (DOH). Revenue from the following surcharges, originally authorized by the Legislature in 2003 and collected by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, are deposited in the Biotoxin Account:
a $3 surcharge on resident and non-resident adult shellfish and seaweed licenses;
a $2 surcharge on annual resident and non-resident adult combination licenses;
a $2 surcharge on annual resident and non-resident razor clam licenses; and
a $1 surcharge on the three-day razor claim license.
Moneys from the Biotoxin Account are used to fund biotoxin testing and monitoring by the DOH of beaches used for recreational shellfishing, and to fund monitoring by the Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom Program at the University of Washington. Moneys in the Biotoxin Account may be spent only after appropriation.
Summary of Bill:
The biotoxin testing and monitoring surcharge on recreational shellfish licenses is increased by $1. The total biotoxin testing and monitoring surcharge after the $1 increase would be:
a $4 surcharge on resident and non-resident adult shellfish and seaweed licenses;
a $3 surcharge on annual resident and non-resident combination licenses;
a $3 surcharge on annual resident and non-resident razor clam licenses; and
a $2 surcharge on the three-day razor claim license.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 23, 2015.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.