H-1559              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1949

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Rayburn, Nealey and Kremen

Read first time 2/13/89 and referred to Committees on Agriculture & Rural Development/Appropriations. Referred 2/20/89 to Committee on Higher Education. Referred 3/1/89 to Committee on Appropriations.

AN ACT Relating to financial and management counseling and instruction regarding agricultural operations; and making appropriations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     (1) The state board for community college education shall establish a program for enhancing the financial and management counseling and instruction provided by the community colleges to owners and operators of farms and ranches.  The enhancement program shall provide funding to community colleges for:

          (a) Travel by farm management instructors for on-farm consultations;

          (b) Computer and video equipment and software for improving on-site instruction and for permitting the use of telephone system transmitted computer data in support of farm counseling and instruction;

          (c) Training for farm management instructors; and

          (d) Telephone expenses and supplies directly related to the farm management program.

          The board may provide funding to the community colleges for such other support of the existing agricultural financial and management counseling and instruction programs offered by the community colleges as the board deems appropriate.

          (2) The sum of seventy-eight thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the state board for community college education for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to carry out the purposes of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) Washington State University, through its cooperative extension service, shall enhance the university's support for the financial and management counseling and instruction program provided by the community colleges to owners and operators of farms and ranches.  To this end, the university shall develop core educational materials and conduct research and on-site workshops.

          (2) The sum of seventy-eight thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to Washington State University for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to carry out the purposes of this section.