H-2202.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2172

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Chandler, Mielke and Mastin

Read first time 02/25/97.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.

Removing a fee on the use of bees for pollination services.

    AN ACT Relating to removing a fee on the use of bees for pollination services; and amending RCW 15.60.040.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 15.60.040 and 1994 c 178 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    (((1) There is hereby established a fee on the use, by growers of agricultural crops, of bee pollination services provided by others.  This pollination service fee is in the amount of fifty cents for each setting of each hive containing a colony that is used by the grower.  The fee shall be paid by the grower using the service, shall be collected by the beekeeper providing the service, and shall be remitted by the beekeeper to the department as provided by rules adopted by the director.  All such fees shall be deposited in the industry apiary program account.  Revenues from these fees shall be directed to use in providing services to the apiary industry that assist in ensuring the vitality and availability of bees for commercial pollination services for the agricultural industry.

    (2))) There is established an industry apiary program account within the agricultural local fund.  All money collected under this chapter including fees for requested services, required inspections, or treatments, and registration fees((, and apiary assessments)) shall be placed in the industry apiary program account.  Money in the account may only be used to carry out the purposes of this chapter.  No appropriation is required for disbursement from the industry apiary program account.

                            --- END ---