HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6508

As Passed House ‑ Amended:

March 6, 2002

Title:  An act relating to registering pesticides.

Brief Description:  Registering pesticides.

Sponsors:  By Senators Rasmussen, Swecker and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/25/02, 2/26/02 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed House ‑ Amended: 3/6/02, 93-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

(As Amended by House)

$Provides for a two‑year registration period for pesticides and alters the registration fees and late registration fees accordingly.

$Staggers the initial registration periods of pesticides currently registered with the state.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Hunt, Vice Chair; Schoesler, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Delvin, Dunshee, Grant, Holmquist, Kirby, Quall, Roach and Sump.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786‑7105).

Background:

The registration and use of pesticides is regulated at the national level by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.   In general, a pesticide cannot be sold or distributed within the United States unless it has been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.   The "pesticides" regulated in this manner encompass herbicides, insecticides, and similar chemicals that control pests.  At the state level, pesticides sold or distributed within the state must be registered annually under the Washington Pesticide Control Act.  The registration fee is $145 for each pesticide registered.  A registrant may elect to register a pesticide for two years by pre‑paying the fee for both years.

In 1999 the Legislature changed from an annual to a two‑year registration program for commercial fertilizers. 

Summary of Amended Bill:

Beginning January 1, 2003, the state's program for registering pesticides is changed from an annual registration program to a two‑year registration program.  However, a portion of the initial registrations under this program are for one year and the remaining are for two years to provide staggered registration periods for products currently registered.  The two‑year registration fee is $290.  If a person who has registered one pesticide registers an additional pesticide during the second year of the registration period for the first pesticide, the additional registration is to expire with the first and the fee for that one year of registration is $145.  If a registration is renewed, but not before the registration expires, the late renewal fee is increased to $50 (from $25).

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note: Available on companion bill.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on January 1, 2003, except for section 3, which takes effect January 1, 2004.

Testimony For:  This is a good government bill.  It is more efficient for everyone.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support)  Senator Rasmussen, prime sponsor; Leslie Emerick, Department of Agriculture; and Heather Hansen, Friends of Farms and Forests.