S-1898               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5922

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Barr and Hansen

Read first time 2/16/89 and referred to Committee on  Agriculture.

AN ACT Relating to authorizing counties to create apiary coordinated areas; adding new sections to chapter 15.60 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The county legislative authority of any county of the third class located east of the cascade crest and bordering on the southern side of the Snake river shall have the power to designate by an order made and published, as provided in section 3 of this act, certain territories as apiary coordinated areas in which they may designate the number of colonies per apiary, the distance between apiaries, the minimum required setback distance from property lines, and/or the time of year the regulations shall be in effect.  No territory so designated shall be less than two square miles in area.  All territory not so designated shall be unrestricted apiary areas.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     When the county legislative authority determines that it would be desirable to establish an apiary coordinated area or areas in their county, they shall make an order fixing a time and place when a hearing will be held, notice of which shall be published at least once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation within the county.  It shall be the duty of the county legislative authority at the time fixed for such hearing, to hear all persons interested in the establishment of apiary restricted areas as defined in sections 1 through 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Within thirty days after the conclusion of any such hearing the county legislative authority shall make an order describing the apiary coordinated areas within the county as to the maximum allowable number of hives per site, the minimum allowable distance between sites, and the minimum required setback from property lines.  The order shall be entered upon the records of the county and published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county at least once each week for four successive weeks.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Any person, or any agent, employee, or representative of a corporation, violating any of the provisions of such order after the order has been published or posted as provided in section 3 of this act, or violating any provision of this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     When the county legislative authority of any county deems it advisable to change the boundary or boundaries of any apiary coordinated area, a hearing shall be held in the same manner as provided in section 2 of this act.  If the county legislative authority decides to change the boundary or boundaries of any apiary coordinated area or areas, they shall within thirty days after the conclusion of such hearing make an order describing the change or changes.  Such order shall be entered upon the records of the county and published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county once each week for four successive weeks.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 15.60 RCW.