S-3855               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6601

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Bailey, Vognild, von Reichbauer, Madsen, Bender, Bauer, Metcalf, Hansen, Warnke, Matson, Bluechel, Conner and Saling

Read first time 1/19/90 and referred to Committee on  Higher Education.

AN ACT Relating to equine research and education at Washington State University; adding a new section to chapter 28B.30 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the equine industry is a major contributor to the economic well-being of Washington state with over eleven thousand people licensed for employment by the Washington horse racing commission alone, over one hundred thoroughbred breeding farms and one hundred fifty-six thousand horses.

          The legislature further finds that in order to meet the needs of the equine industry for quality horses and employment of well-trained, career-oriented graduates, it is necessary to create a quality integrated equine research and education program at Washington State University.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.30 RCW to read as follows:

          There is hereby created an equine research and education program to be jointly conducted by the department of animal sciences and the college of veterinary medicine at Washington State University.  The objectives of the equine program shall be as follows:

          (1) Provide an integrated, educational approach to horse production, management, and health for students enrolled at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and

          (2) Conduct research in reproduction, nutrition, exercise physiology, animal sports medicine, virology, and immunology of horses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to Washington State University for the purposes of an equine research and education program.