VETO MESSAGE ON SB 5533-S

                   May 15, 2001

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 7, Substitute Senate Bill No. 5533 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to posting and notification of pesticide applications at schools;"

     Substitute Senate Bill No. 5533 clarifies and improves the laws governing the application of pesticides near schools, and provides for advance notification of parents and school employees.

     Section 7 of this bill would have stopped these important improvements from going into effect unless funding were provided in the 2001-2003 budget.  While there may have been significant budget implications in the original draft of this bill, the affected entities concluded in their final fiscal analysis that there will be no material costs associated with compliance. Therefore, no funding is needed in the budget for implementation of this act. 

I have vetoed section 7 to ensure that this important measure for improving parental awareness of pesticide uses in schools and day care facilities will go into effect.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed section 7 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 5533.

     With the exception of section 7, Substitute Senate Bill No. 5533 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor