Z-273 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL NO. 5154
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C 200 L 89
State of Washington 51st Legislature 1989 Regular Session
By Senators West and Kreidler; by request of Department of Social and Health Services
Read first time 1/16/89 and referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to sanitary control of shellfish; amending RCW 69.30.010; adding new sections to chapter 69.30 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 144, Laws of 1955 as last amended by section 1, chapter 51, Laws of 1985 and RCW 69.30.010 are each amended to read as follows:
When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Shellfish" means all varieties of fresh and frozen oysters, mussels, and clams, either shucked or in the shell, and any fresh or frozen edible products thereof.
(2) "Sale" means to sell, offer for sale, barter, trade, deliver, consign, hold for sale, consignment, barter, trade, or delivery, and/or possess with intent to sell or dispose of in any commercial manner.
(3) "Shellfish growing areas" means the lands and waters in and upon which shellfish are grown for harvesting in commercial quantity or for sale for human consumption.
(4) "Establishment" means the buildings, together with the necessary equipment and appurtenances, used for the storage, culling, shucking, packing and/or shipping of shellfish in commercial quantity or for sale for human consumption.
(5)
"Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, company,
corporation ((and/or)), association, or the authorized agents
of any such entities.
(6) "Department" means the state department of social and health services.
(7) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health services or his or her authorized representatives.
(8) "Commercial quantity" means any quantity exceeding: (a) Forty pounds of mussels; (b) one hundred oysters; (c) fourteen horseclams; (d) six geoducks; or (e) fifty pounds of hard or soft shell clams.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 69.30 RCW to read as follows:
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the sanitary control of shellfish. Protection of the public health requires assurances that commercial shellfish are harvested only from approved growing areas and that processing of shellfish is conducted in a safe and sanitary manner.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 69.30 RCW to read as follows:
As limited by section 4 of this act, the department may impose civil penalties for violations of standards set forth in this chapter or rules adopted under RCW 69.30.030.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 69.30 RCW to read as follows:
(1) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, every person who violates standards set forth in this chapter or rules adopted under RCW 69.30.030 is subject to a penalty of not more than five hundred dollars per day for every violation. Every violation is a separate and distinct offense. In case of a continuing violation, every day's continuance is a separate and distinct violation. Every person who, through an act of commission or omission, procures, aids, or abets in the violation is in violation of this section and is subject to the penalty provided in this section.
(2) The penalty provided for in this section shall be imposed by a notice in writing to the person against whom the civil fine is assessed and shall describe the violation with reasonable particularity. The notice shall be personally served in the manner of service of a summons in a civil action or in a manner which shows proof of receipt. Any penalty imposed by this section shall become due and payable twenty-eight days after receipt of notice unless application for remission or mitigation is made as provided in subsection (3) of this section or unless application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(3) Within fourteen days after the notice is received, the person incurring the penalty may apply in writing to the department for the remission or mitigation of the penalty. Upon receipt of the application, the department may remit or mitigate the penalty upon whatever terms the department deems proper, giving consideration to the degree of hazard associated with the violation. The department may only grant a remission or mitigation that it deems to be in the best interests of carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The department may ascertain the facts regarding all such applications in a manner it deems proper. When an application for remission or mitigation is made, any penalty incurred pursuant to this section becomes due and payable twenty-eight days after receipt of the notice setting forth the disposition of the application, unless an application for an adjudicative proceeding to contest the disposition is filed as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(4) Within twenty-eight days after notice is received, the person incurring the penalty may file an application for an adjudicative proceeding and may pursue subsequent review as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW and applicable rules of the department or board of health.
(5) Any penalty imposed by final order following an adjudicative proceeding becomes due and payable upon service of the final order.
(6) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of the department in the superior court of Thurston county or of any county in which the violator may do business to collect any penalty imposed under this chapter.
(7) All penalties imposed under this section shall be paid to the state treasury and credited to the general fund.