S-0715.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5353

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Rasmussen, Morton, Swecker and Gardner

Read first time 01/20/1999.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

Modifying the powers and duties of the dairy commission.

    AN ACT Relating to the dairy products commission; and amending RCW 15.44.060.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 15.44.060 and 1979 ex.s. c 238 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    The commission shall have the power and duty to:

    (1) Elect a chairman and such other officers as it deems advisable, and adopt, rescind, and amend rules, regulations, and orders for the exercise of its powers, which shall have the effect of law when not inconsistent with existing laws;

    (2) Administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and perform all acts and exercise all powers reasonably necessary to effectuate the purpose hereof;

    (3) Employ and discharge advertising counsel, advertising agents, and such attorneys, agents, and employees as it deems necessary, and prescribe their duties and powers and fix their compensation;

    (4) Establish offices, incur expenses, enter into contracts, and create such liabilities as are reasonable and proper for the proper administration of this chapter;

    (5) Investigate and prosecute violations of this chapter;

    (6) Conduct scientific research designed to improve milk production, quality, transportation, processing, and distribution and to develop and discover uses for products of milk and its derivatives;

    (7) Make in its name such advertising contracts and other agreements as are necessary to promote the sale of dairy products on either a state, national, or foreign basis;

    (8) Keep accurate records of all its dealings, which shall be open to public inspection and audit by the regular agencies of the state; ((and))

    (9) Conduct the necessary research to develop more efficient and equitable methods of marketing dairy products, and enter upon, singly or in participation with others, the promotion and development of state, national, or foreign markets; and

(10) Participate in federal and state agency hearings, meetings, and other proceedings relating to the regulation of the production, manufacture, distribution, sale, or use of dairy products, to provide educational meetings and seminars for the dairy industry on such matters, and to expend commission funds for such activities.

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