FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1620

C 254 L 15

Synopsis as Enacted

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.

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

In 2009 the Legislature created the Biotoxin Account (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 (DFW), are deposited in the Account, which include a:

• $3 surcharge on resident and non-resident adult shellfish and seaweed licenses;

• $2 surcharge on annual resident and non-resident adult combination licenses;

• $2 surcharge on annual resident and non-resident razor clam licenses; and

• $1 surcharge on the three-day razor clam license.

Moneys from the 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 Account may be spent only after appropriation.

In addition to the statutory surcharges on recreational shellfish licenses, the DOH collects a biotoxin testing fee on commercial shellfish licenses. The fees on commercial shellfish licenses are set in rule, and may be increased by the DOH through the rulemaking process. Fee revenue is deposited in the General Fund-Private/Local and may be spent only after appropriation.

Summary:

The biotoxin testing and monitoring surcharge on recreational shellfish licenses is increased by $1 per license. 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;

• $3 surcharge on annual resident and non-resident combination licenses;

• $3 surcharge on annual resident and non-resident razor clam licenses; and

• $2 surcharge on the three-day razor clam license.

Revenue generated by the surcharges may not be used to pay for the DFW's administrative costs.

The surcharge on recreational shellfish licenses may not be increased by more than $1, and may only be increased when the DOH increases the corresponding fees in rule on commercial shellfish licenses.

Votes on Final Passage: