WSR 99-02-063
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Filed January 6, 1999, 10:27 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 98-23-086.
Title of Rule: WAC 16-532-030(3) Hop Board, board membership.
Purpose: The proposed amendment will clarify the qualifications of hop producers who are also handlers and who serve on the board of the Hop Commission.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 15.65.050.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 15.65 RCW.
Summary: The Hop Board has recommended an amendment to the hop marketing order that would allow hop growers who are also dealers, as defined in the marketing order, to serve on the board of the commission. The hop industry is consolidating and the rule will allow qualified individuals to continue to serve on the board of the commission.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The rule is authorized in the Agricultural Enabling Act of 1961, chapter 15.65 RCW.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Walter Swenson, 1111 Washington Street, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 902-1928; Implementation and Enforcement: Ann George, Hop Commission, 504 North Naches Avenue, #11, Yakima, WA 98901, (509) 453-4749.
Name of Proponent: Washington Hop Commission, a designee of the director of agriculture, governmental.
Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: Adoption of the rule may be subject to approval of the growers in a referendum conducted in compliance with procedures in chapter 15.65 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The hop industry in the state is consolidating and the vertical integration of the industry requires that there be changes in the composition and qualifications of board membership. The rule change will allow producers who are handlers of the affected commodity to serve on the board as producer representatives.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: The current rule, WAC 16-536-020(3) does not allow a grower who is also a handler to represent growers on the board of the Hop Commission. This rule will allow growers who are also handlers to serve on the board.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. No small business economic impact statement was prepared. The rule will only affect hop growers in the state and only become effective with the approval of a majority of the hop growers voting in a referendum. The rule will not increase cost in equipment, supplies, labor or administrative expenses.
Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is not a listed agency in section 201.
Hearing Location: Masonic Center, 504 North Naches Avenue, Yakima, WA, on February 23, 1999, at 1:30 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Cathy Jensen by February 19, 1999, TDD (360) 902-1996, or (360) 902-1976.
Submit Written Comments to: Walter Swenson, Agricultural Programs Administrator, Washington Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, fax (360) 902-2092, by February 23, 1999.
Date of Intended Adoption: May 5, 1999.
January 6, 1999
Walter Swenson
Programs Administrator
[AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-09-068, filed 4/14/92)]
WAC 16-532-020 Hop board. (1) Administration. The provisions of this order and the applicable provisions of the act shall be administered and enforced by the board as the designee of the director.
(2) Board membership.
(a) The board shall consist of ten members. Nine members shall be affected producers elected as provided in this section. The director shall appoint one member of the board who is neither an affected producer nor a handler to represent the department and the public.
(b) For the purpose of nomination and election of producer members of the board, the affected area shall be the entire state of Washington.
(3) Board membership qualifications.
The affected producer members of the board shall be
practical producers of hops and shall be citizens and residents
of the state of Washington, over the age of twenty-five years,
each of whom is and has been actually engaged in producing hops
within the state of Washington for a period of five years and has
during that time derived a substantial portion of his income
therefrom ((and who is not engaged in business, directly or
indirectly, as a handler or other dealer)).
(4) Term of office.
(a) The term of office for members of the board shall be three years and one-third of the membership as nearly as possible shall be elected each year.
(b) Membership positions on the board shall be designated numerically; affected producers shall have positions one through nine and the member appointed by the director position ten.
(c) The term of office for the initial board members shall be as follows:
Positions one, two, three and ten - until June 30, 1967
Positions four, five and six - until June 30, 1966
Positions seven, eight and nine - until June 30, 1965
(d) Terms of office for the board members serving at the time of the 1992 amendment of this section shall be as follows:
Positions one, two, three and ten - until December 31, 1994
Positions four, five and six - until December 31, 1993
Positions seven, eight and nine - until December 31, 1992
(5) Nomination and election of board members. Each year the director shall call for a nomination meeting. Such meeting shall be held at least thirty days in advance of the date set by the director for the election of board members. Notice of every such meeting shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the major production area not less than ten days in advance of the date of such meeting and in addition, written notice of every such meeting shall be given to all affected producers according to the list maintained by the director pursuant to RCW 15.65.200 of the act. Nonreceipt of notice by any interested person shall not invalidate the proceedings at such nomination meeting. Any qualified affected producer may be nominated orally for membership on the board at such nomination meetings. Nominations may also be made within five days after any such meetings by written petition filed with the director signed by not less than five affected producers. At the inception of this order nominations may be made at the issuance hearing.
(6) Election of board members.
(a) Members of the board shall be elected by secret mail ballot within the month of November under the supervision of the director. Affected producer members of the board shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by the affected producers. Each affected producer shall be entitled to one vote.
(b) If a nominee does not receive a majority of the votes on the first ballot a run-off election shall be held by mail in a similar manner between the two candidates for such position receiving the largest number of votes.
(c) Notice of every election for board membership shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the major production area not less than ten days in advance of the date of such election. Not less than ten days prior to every election for board membership, the director shall mail a ballot of the candidates to each affected producer entitled to vote whose name appears upon the list of such affected producers maintained by the director in accordance with RCW 15.65.200. Any other affected producer entitled to vote may obtain a ballot by application to the director upon establishing his qualifications. Nonreceipt of a ballot by any affected producer shall not invalidate the election of any board member.
(7) Vacancies prior to election. In the event of a vacancy on the board, the remaining members shall select a qualified person to fill the unexpired term.
(8) Quorum. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business and the carrying out of all duties of the board.
(9) Board compensation. No member of the board shall receive any salary or other compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for actual subsistence and traveling expenses incurred through attendance at meetings or other board activities: Provided, That such expenses shall be authorized by resolution by unanimous approval of the board at a regular meeting.
(10) Powers and duties of the board. The board shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To administer, enforce and control the provisions of this order as the designee of the director.
(b) To elect a chairman and such other officers as the board deems advisable.
(c) To employ and discharge at its discretion such personnel, including attorneys engaged in the private practice of law subject to the approval and supervision of the attorney general, as the board determines are necessary and proper to carry out the purpose of the order and effectuate the declared policies of the act.
(d) To pay only from moneys collected as assessments or advances thereon the costs arising in connection with the formulation, issuance, administration and enforcement of the order. Such expenses and costs may be paid by check, draft or voucher in such form and in such manner and upon the signature of the person as the board may prescribe.
(e) To reimburse any applicant who has deposited money with the director in order to defray the costs of formulating the order.
(f) To establish a "hop board marketing revolving fund" and such fund to be deposited in a bank or banks or financial institution or institutions, approved for the deposit of state funds, in which all money received by the board except as the amount of petty cash for each day's needs, not to exceed one hundred dollars, shall be deposited each day or as often during the day as advisable.
(g) To keep or cause to be kept in accordance with accepted standards of good accounting practice, accurate records of all assessments, paid outs, moneys and other financial transactions made and done pursuant to this order. Such records, books and accounts shall be audited at least annually subject to procedures and methods lawfully prescribed by the state auditor. Such books and accounts shall be closed as of the last day of each fiscal year of the state of Washington. A copy of such audit shall be delivered within thirty days after the completion thereof to the governor, the director, the state auditor and the board.
(h) To require a bond of all board members and employees of the board in a position of trust in the amount the board shall deem necessary. The premium for such bond or bonds shall be paid by the board from assessments collected. Such bond shall not be necessary if any such board member or employee is covered by any blanket bond covering officials or employees of the state of Washington.
(i) To prepare a budget or budgets covering anticipated income and expenses to be incurred in carrying out the provisions of the order during each fiscal year.
(j) To establish by resolution, a headquarters which shall continue as such unless and until so changed by the board. All records, books and minutes of board meetings shall be kept at such headquarters.
(k) To adopt rules and regulations of a technical or administrative nature, subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW (Administrative Procedure Act).
(l) To carry out the provisions of RCW 15.65.510 covering the obtaining of information necessary to effectuate the provisions of the order and the act, along with the necessary authority and procedure for obtaining such information.
(m) To bring actions or proceedings upon joining the director as a party for specific performance, restraint, injunction or mandatory injunction against any person who violates or refuses to perform the obligations or duties imposed upon him by the act or order.
(n) To confer with and cooperate with the legally constituted authorities of other states and of the United States for the purpose of obtaining uniformity in the administration of federal and state marketing regulations, licenses, agreements or orders.
(o) To carry out any other grant of authority or duty provided designees and not specifically set forth in this section.
(11) Procedures for board.
(a) The board shall hold regular meetings, at least quarterly, with the time and date thereof to be fixed by resolution of the board.
(b) The board shall hold an annual meeting, at which time an annual report will be presented. The proposed budget shall be presented for discussion at the meeting. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given by the board at least ten days prior to the meeting by written notice to each producer and by regular wire news services and radio-television press.
(c) The board shall establish by resolution, the time, place and manner of calling special meetings of the board with reasonable notice to the members: Provided, That the notice of any special meeting may be waived by a waiver thereof by each member of the board.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.65 RCW. 92-09-068, § 16-532-020, filed 4/14/92, effective 5/15/92; 88-24-028 (Order 1992), § 16-532-020, filed 12/2/88; Marketing Order Article II, §§ A through K, filed 7/1/64.]
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.