SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1780

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Agriculture & International Trade, March 23, 2001

Title:  An act relating to the fruit and vegetable district fund.

Brief Description:  Concerning moneys in the fruit and vegetable district fund.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Armstrong, Linville, B. Chandler and Grant.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & International Trade:  3/23/01 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Sheahan and Swecker.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786‑7404)

Background:  The Department of Agriculture administers a number of commodity inspection services which are funded on a fee-for-service basis.  Fees collected for the inspection of horticultural products are deposited in the horticultural inspection account in the agricultural local fund.  This fund is not subject to legislative appropriation.

Horticultural Inspection District 2 is made up of Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, Yakima, and a portion of Benton County.

In 1997, concern emerged about a potential infestation of apple maggot in the Yakima Basin which could affect the ability to export apples abroad.  As a result,  the Legislature authorized $200,000 in monies transferred from the horticultural inspection account for District 2 to the plant pest account.  The funds may be used solely for activities related to the control of apple maggot.  Any  funds not expended by the end of the biennium were to be returned to the fruit and vegetable district fund.

In 1999, a bill was passed to extend the authorization through June 30, 2001.

Summary of Bill:  The authorization to use the unexpended funds transferred to the plant pest account for control of apple maggot (rhagoletis pomonella) is extended for an additional two-year period until June 30, 2003.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 2001.

Testimony For:  Reference was made to testimony on companion measure, SB 5781.  If an infestation of apple maggot was found in a commercial apple growing area, export markets would be jeopardized.  With the significant decline in apple prices, and with the pending drought, there is an increased chance that abandoned orchards could be subject to an outbreak of apple maggot.  The extension of this bill is needed to assure funds continue to be available.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Leslie Emerich, WSDA.