HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2092
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. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources
Title: An act relating to huckleberry buyers retaining and disclosing records to law enforcement.
Brief Description: Concerning huckleberry buyers retaining and disclosing records to law enforcement.
Sponsors: Representatives Mosbrucker, Chapman, Dye and Eslick.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources: 1/14/20, 1/21/20 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE, & NATURAL RESOURCES |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Blake, Chair; Shewmake, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Dent, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chapman, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Kretz, Lekanoff, Orcutt, Pettigrew, Ramos, Schmick, Springer and Walsh.
Staff: Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).
Background:
In order to harvest and sell raw or unprocessed huckleberries, a person must obtain a specialized forest product permit from the sheriff of the county where the huckleberries are harvested, or for huckleberries harvested on federal United States Forest Service land. Buyers of wild huckleberries and specialized forest products must collect and record information regarding purchased products. Necessary information is enumerated in statute and includes:
the seller's name;
the product amount;
the delivery date; and
whether the product is accompanied by documentation such as an invoice or bill of lading.
Specialized forest product buyers must retain this information and any accompanying documentation for one year from the date of purchase and make records available to enforcement officers upon request. Records of specialized forest product buyers and huckleberry buyers may be made available to colleges and universities for research purposes.
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Summary of Bill:
Huckleberry buyers must retain information and any accompanying documentation collected on huckleberries bought for one year from the date of purchase, and make those records available to law enforcement officers upon request.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Law enforcement needs a way to track whether or not huckleberries have been harvested legally. Currently, law enforcement officers will find huckleberry bushes that have been dug up, or harvested with rakes, which is not a legal method of huckleberry harvest. Huckleberries are an important resource to tribes. Often, when it comes time for huckleberry harvesting, Yakama Nation harvesters will encounter plants that have been damaged. This bill is closing a gap in statute. Sellers' records are an important resource to ensure that huckleberries can be traced to their point of origin and have been harvested legally.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Mosbrucker, prime sponsor; and Dawn Vyvyan, Yakama Nation.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.