SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1117

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Agriculture, March 25, 2003

Title: An act relating to moving a web site address from statute to rule.

Brief Description: Moving a web site address from statute to rule.

Sponsors: Representatives Linville, Schoesler and Grant; by request of Department of Agriculture.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Agriculture: 3/25/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Swecker, Chair; Brandland, Vice Chair; Jacobsen and Rasmussen.

Staff: Evan Sheffels (786-7486)

Background: Washington's fertilizer law, Chapter 15.54 RCW, requires that all fertilizer labels have a statement directing purchasers to a specific website, maintained by either the Washington State Department of Agriculture or the company registering the fertilizer. Purchasers can find information about a particular fertilizer's composition and metal content at these web sites.

Summary of Bill: The requirement that commercial fertilizer products be labeled with specific internet address information is removed from the fertilizer statute. Commercial fertilizer product labels are to include a statement, to be established by departmental rule, indicating the department's uniform resource locator (internet address). This web site will provide data regarding metal content in the fertilizer. A January 1, 2004 effective date is provided. This date coincides with the beginning of the next fertilizer registration period.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2004.

Testimony For: This proposal will allow the department to update its uniform resource locator (URL) by rule. The web site reference in current statute will be outdated within a year. Information currently available to purchasers will still be available. This bill simply adds flexibility.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Leslie Emerick, WSDA (pro).