S-3941               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6244

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Bailey, Hansen, Gaspard and Barr

Read first time 1/9/90 and referred to Committee on Agriculture.

AN ACT Relating to organic food certification; amending RCW 15.86.070; and making an appropriation.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 12, chapter 393, Laws of 1987 as amended by section 34, chapter 354, Laws of 1989 and RCW 15.86.070 are each amended to read as follows:

          The director may adopt rules establishing a certification program for producers and processors of organic or transition to organic food including packing sheds and wholesale distributors.  The rules may govern, but are not limited to governing:  The number and scheduling of on-site visits, both announced and unannounced, by certification personnel; recordkeeping requirements; and the submission of product samples for chemical analysis.  The rules shall include a fee schedule that will provide for the recovery of the full cost of the ((inspection)) certification program, excluding the inspection program.  Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in an account within the agricultural local fund and the revenue from such fees shall be used solely for carrying out the provisions of this section, and no appropriation is required for disbursement from the fund.  The director may employ such personnel as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The sum of one hundred forty-one thousand six hundred fifty-two dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, for the organic food program.