| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee | |
HB 2923
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Providing an alternative method for weight tickets for transporting hay or straw.
Sponsors: Representatives Hinkle, Warnick, Blake, Chandler, Hailey, Schmick, Kretz, Williams, Eickmeyer, Condotta, McCune, VanDeWege and Newhouse.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/28/08
Staff: Colleen Kerr (786-7168).
Background:
Statute requires that every dealer and commission merchant dealing in hay or straw shall obtain a
certified vehicle tare weight and a certified vehicle gross weight for each load hauled and shall
furnish the consignor with a copy of the certified weight ticket within 72 hours after taking
delivery. It is a statutory violation for any licensee to transport hay or straw purchased by weight
without the licensee having obtained a certified weight ticket from the first licensed public
weighmaster encountered on the ordinary route to the destination for unloading the hay or straw.
A dealer is any person who is not a cash buyer and who solicits for the purposes of reselling. A
commission merchant is any person who receives agricultural purchases on consignment for
resale. A consignor is any producer who sells, ships, or delivers agricultural product to any
dealer or commission agent. A licensee is any person or business licensed under statute, among
other things, as a dealer or commission agent.
Tare weight is the weight of a vehicle or container when it is empty. Generally, to calculate the
net weight of a load, the container is weighed to establish the tare weight and then weighed again
for the gross weight, and the tare is subtracted from the gross to determine how heavy the load is.
Summary of Bill:
If the dealer or commission merchant and a consignor agree in advance and in writing, a certified
vehicle tare weight and certified vehicle gross weight may be obtained from a hay or straw
processing facility, using a scale approved by the Director of the Washington State Department
of Agriculture.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.