SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5724

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Agriculture, February 27, 2003

Title: An act relating to placing aversive agents in antifreeze.

Brief Description: Requiring that antifreeze be made unpalatable to humans and animals.

Sponsors: Senators Fairley, Kohl-Welles, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Fraser, Regala and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Agriculture: 2/18/03, 2/28/03 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means: 3/3/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5724 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff: Evan Sheffels (786-7486)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff: Richard Ramsey (786-7412)

Background: The Poison Prevention Act is administered by the Department of Agriculture. This act adopts rules and regulations adopted under the federal Poison Prevention Packaging Act.

The act requires such things as special packaging of household substances. Household substances means any hazardous substance which is customarily produced or distributed for sale for consumption or use and is stored by individuals in the household.

Special packaging is required for some products so that it is difficult for children under five years old to open or obtain a toxic or harmful substance within a reasonable time.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Antifreeze products containing at least 10 percent ethylene glycol and manufactured in this state after July 1, 2004, or sold after July 1, 2005, must contain an aversive agent to render the product unpalatable to humans and animals.

Exemptions are made for motor vehicles, used and recycled antifreeze, and containers of 55 or more gallons.

The Department of Agriculture may order the removal from retail shelf space of any antifreeze products not complying with this requirement.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill did not contain exemptions. The substitute gives an extra year for stores to sell antifreeze inventory.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 17, 2003.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The Federation of Animal Control and Humane Societies support this bill.

Testimony Against: None. Concerns: Recycling used antifreeze is a better way to address the issue. Repair sites often collect and send used antifreeze off to be recycled; stores are concerned about being stuck with inventory on the shelves.

Testified: Gordon Walgren, Federation of Animal Control and Humane Societies (pro); Gary Smith, Ind. Bus. Assn. (concerns); Larry Stevens, WAWA-Washington Automotive Wholesales Association (concerns).