HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6866

BYSenator Barr

Changing fee amount for research for field and turf grass seed production.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Nealey, Ranking Republican Member; Chandler, Doty, Grant, Jesernig, Kirby, McLean, Rasmussen and Youngsman.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The open burning of field and turf grasses grown for seed is a regulated, permitted activity. A special fee of 50 cents per acre of crop to be burned is collected in conjunction with each permit to burn.  The fee is deposited in the Grass Seed Burning Research Account. The Department of Ecology allocates moneys from the Account for the support of the study and identification of economical and practical alternative practices to open field burning for these crops.

If the department concludes that a device, technique, or program is a practical alternative to open field burning, it must certify the alternative. Thereafter, open field burning for these crops is disallowed.

SUMMARY:

The special fee required for a permit to burn field and turf grass seed fields is increased to one dollar (from 50 cents) per acre of field to be burned.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 22, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Padden.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill is the result of meetings between grass seed growers and citizens who oppose field burning. The bill will fund additional research into alternatives to field burning.  Idaho's Legislature will also be appropriating more money for this purpose.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.