Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: The amendment to the assessment rate in WAC 16-532-040 was approved in a referendum of affected hop producers pursuant to RCW 15.65.170.

     Purpose: The Washington hop commission petitioned the director to amend its marketing order to revise WAC 16-532-040, increasing the assessment rate per "affected unit" from $1.80 up to $2.50 to support specific programs that benefit the hop industry.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-532-040.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapters 15.65 and 34.05 RCW.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 08-09-116 on April 22, 2008.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Proposed revisions to WAC 16-532-035 Inspection required, have not been adopted. This section of the rule proposal failed the required referendum vote.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: July 10, 2008.

Robert W. Gore

Acting Director

OTS-1294.3

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-15-098, filed 7/15/05, effective 8/15/05)

WAC 16-532-040   Assessments and collections.   (1) Assessments.

     (a) The annual assessment on all varieties of hops shall be ((one)) up to two dollars and ((eighty)) fifty cents per affected unit, as approved by referendum vote of affected producers, the results of which shall be retained on file in the board's administrative office.

     (b) For the purpose of collecting assessments the board may:

     (i) Require handlers to collect producer assessments from producers whose production they handle, and remit the same to the board; or

     (ii) Require the person subject to the assessment to give adequate assurance or security for its payment; or

     (iii) Require the person subject to the assessment to remit assessments for any hops which are processed prior to the first sale; or

     (iv) Require the person subject to the assessment to remit an inventory report for any hops which are not processed or sold prior to December 31 of the year in which they are produced.

     (c) Subsequent to the first sale or processing, no affected units shall be transported, carried, shipped, sold, marketed, or otherwise handled or disposed of until every due and payable assessment herein provided for has been paid and the receipt issued. The foregoing shall include all affected units shipped or sold, both inside and outside the state.

     (2) Collections. Any moneys collected or received by the board pursuant to the provisions of the order during or with respect to any season or year may be refunded on a pro rata basis at the close of such season or year or at the close of such longer period as the board determines to be reasonably adapted to effectuate the declared policies of this act and the purposes of such marketing agreement or order, to all persons from whom such moneys were collected or received or may be carried over into and used with respect to the next succeeding season, year or period whenever the board finds that the same will tend to effectuate such policies and purposes.

     (3) Penalties. Any due and payable assessment herein levied in such specified amount as may be determined by the board pursuant to the provisions of the act and the order, shall constitute a personal debt of every person so assessed or who otherwise owes the same, and the same shall be due and payable to the board when payment is called for by it. In the event any person fails to pay the board the full amount of such assessment or such other sum on or before the date due, the board may, and is hereby authorized to add to such unpaid assessment or sum an amount not exceeding ten percent of the same to defray the cost of enforcing the collecting of the same. In the event of failure of such person or persons to pay any such due and payable assessment or other such sum, the board may bring a civil action against such person or persons in a state court of competent jurisdiction for the collection thereof, together with the above specified ten percent thereon, and such action shall be tried and judgment rendered as in any other cause of action for debt due and payable.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.65.047 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 05-15-098, § 16-532-040, filed 7/15/05, effective 8/15/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.65.050. 97-17-096, § 16-532-040, filed 8/20/97, effective 9/20/97; 95-17-118 (Order 5077), § 16-532-040, filed 8/23/95, effective 9/23/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.65 RCW. 91-15-019 (Order 2090), § 16-532-040, filed 7/10/91, effective 8/10/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.65.170. 87-10-059 (Order 1927), § 16-532-040, filed 5/6/87, effective 6/8/87. Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.65 RCW. 83-16-041 (Order 1800), § 16-532-040, filed 7/29/83; 80-05-090 (Order 1686), § 16-532-040, filed 5/1/80; 79-01-045 (Order 1593), § 16-532-040, filed 12/21/78; Order 1332, § 16-532-040, filed 1/17/74; Marketing Order Article IV, §§ A through C, filed 7/1/64.]

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