SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1897

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Agriculture & International Trade, March 23, 2001

Title:  An act relating to agricultural fairs.

Brief Description:  Modifying requirements to receive state allocations for an agricultural fair.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Delvin, Hankins, Poulsen, Grant, B. Chandler, Mastin and G. Chandler).

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:  To qualify for an allocation from the state fair fund, a fair organization is required to have conducted two successful consecutive annual fairs immediately preceding the year of application for funding.  The director of the Department of Agriculture was authorized to waive this requirement for the period from January 1, 1994, though June 30, 1997.

Interest has been expressed to change the organizational structure of a county fair that historically has been operated jointly by two counties into an area fair operated by a local fair association.

Summary of Bill:  The director of the Department of Agriculture is authorized to waive the requirement for two years of successful operation for a fair that reorganizes from a county fair to an area fair.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  Reference was made to the testimony previously given on the Senate companion measure, SSB 5734.  The Benton‑Franklin Fair has been in operation for 52 years.  This bill allows it to continue to be eligible for an allocation from the state fair fund while it makes a transition from a county fair to an area fair.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Heather Hansen, Washington State Fairs Association; Leslie Emerich, WSDA; Representative Jerome Delvin.