Source: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2004/04/04-04-107.htm
Timestamp: 2020-05-31 13:54:09
Document Index: 41739344

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16']

WSR 04-04-107
[ Filed February 4, 2004, 10:37 a.m. ]
Title of Rule: Dry peas and lentils (Washington Dry Pea and Lentil Commission), chapter 16-536 WAC.
Purpose: This rule-making proposal makes amendments to sections within the Washington Dry Pea and Lentil Commission's marketing order, chapter 16-536 WAC, to reflect recent statutory changes, while improving readability and clarity and eliminating outdated sections, as well as, increase the current assessment rate.
Summary: During the past three legislative sessions, significant amendments were made to the commission's enabling statute, chapter 15.65 RCW. These statutory changes prompted proposed amendments to chapter 16-536 WAC. Proposed amendments expand the commission's policy and purpose statements, update the definitions, update the commission member selection process, add additional powers and duties to benefit the industry, update meeting and administrative procedures, and expand the commission's information and education role. These amendments achieve consistency with the statute, as well as, improve the readability and clarity of the marketing order. In addition, a proposed amendment will increase the current assessment rate to expand varietal and end-use research, generate new crop protection labels, continue market development, and generate federal matching dollars.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Lynn Briscoe, Olympia, Washington, (360) 902-2043; Implementation and Enforcement: Tim McGreevy, Moscow, Idaho, (208) 882-3023.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: This rule-making proposal makes amendments to sections within the Washington Dry Pea and Lentil Commission's marketing order, chapter 16-536 WAC. During the past three legislative sessions, significant amendments were made to the commission's enabling statute, chapter 15.65 RCW. These statutory changes prompted proposed amendments to chapter 16-536 WAC to achieve consistency with the statute, as well as, improve the readability and clarity of the marketing order. See Summary above. In addition, a proposed amendment will increase the current assessment rate from one percent of the net receipts at the first point of sale to one and one-half percent to expand varietal and end-use research, generate new crop protection labels, continue market development, and generate federal matching dollars. The following are the proposed amendments:
• New section WAC 16-536-005 Marketing order for Washington dry peas and lentils -- Policy statement.
• New section WAC 16-536-006 Marketing order purposes.
• Amend WAC 16-536-010 Definitions.
• Amend WAC 16-536-020 The dry pea and lentil board.
• Repeal WAC 16-536-030 Marketing order purposes.
• Amend WAC 16-536-040 Assessments and collections.
• Amend WAC 16-536-060 Termination of the order.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. In accordance with RCW 15.65.570, the adoption of the final amendments to chapter 16-536 WAC will be determined by a referendum vote of the affected parties.
Hearing Location: Whitman County Public Service Building, Downstairs Auditorium, North 310 Main, Colfax, WA 99111, on March 10, 2004, at 11:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Virginia Walsh at (360) 902-1976, by March 3, 2004, TDD (360) 902-1996.
Submit Written Comments to: Lynn Briscoe, Commodity Commission Coordinator, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504, fax (360) 902-2092, e-mail lbriscoe@agr.wa.gov, by March 11, 2004, 5:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: August 9, 2004.
OTS-6945.2
(a) Enabling producers of dry peas and lentils to help themselves in establishing orderly, fair, sound, efficient, and unhampered marketing, grading, and standardizing of the dry peas and lentils they produce; and
(b) Working towards stabilizing the agricultural industry by increasing consumption of dry peas and lentils within the state, the nation, and internationally.
(2) That it is in the overriding public interest that support for the dry peas and lentils industry be clearly expressed, that adequate protection be given to the industry and its activities and operations, and that dry peas and lentils be promoted individually, and as part of a comprehensive agricultural industry to:
(a) Enhance the reputation and image of Washington state's dry peas and lentils.
(b) Increase the sale and use of Washington state's dry peas and lentils in local, domestic, and foreign markets.
(c) Protect the public by educating the public in reference to the quality, care, and methods used in the production of Washington state's dry peas and lentils.
(d) Increase the knowledge of the health-giving qualities and dietetic value of Washington state's dry peas and lentils and products.
(e) Support and engage in programs or activities that benefit the planting, production, harvesting, handling, processing, marketing, and uses of dry peas and lentils produced in Washington state.
(4) The Washington state dry pea and lentil commodity board exists primarily for the benefit of the people of the state of Washington and its economy, and with oversight by the director, the board is authorized to speak on behalf of Washington state government with regard to dry peas and lentils under the provisions of this marketing order.
(a) Establish plans and conduct programs for marketing, sales, promotion and/or other programs for maintaining present markets and/or creating new or larger markets for dry peas and/or lentils. Such programs shall be directed toward increasing the sale of dry peas and/or lentils without reference to any particular brand or trade name and shall neither make use of false or unwarranted claims on behalf of dry peas and/or lentils nor disparage the quality, value, sale or use of any other agricultural commodity.
(b) Provide for research in the production, processing, irrigation, transportation, handling, and/or distribution of dry peas and/or lentils and expend the necessary funds for such purposes. Insofar as practicable, such research shall be carried out by experiment stations of Washington State University, but if in the judgment of the board said experiment stations do not have adequate facilities for a particular project or if some other research agency has better facilities therefor, the project may be carried out by other research agencies selected by the board.
(i) Establishing uniform grades and standards of quality, condition, maturity, size, weight, pack, packages and/or label for dry peas and/or lentils or any products thereof.
(ii) Requiring producers, handlers and/or other persons to conform to such grades and/or standards in packing, packaging, processing, labeling, selling or otherwise commercially disposing of dry peas and/or lentils and/or in offering, advertising and/or delivering it therefor.
(i) Marketing information and services for producers of dry peas and/or lentils for the verification of grades, standards, weights, tests, and sampling of quality and quantity of dry peas and/or lentils purchased by handlers from affected producers.
(iii) Dry peas and lentils-related education and training.
(e) Subject to the provisions of the act, provide information and communicate on matters pertaining to the production, irrigation, processing, transportation, marketing, or uses of dry peas and/or lentils produced in Washington state to any elected official or officer or employee of any agency.
(a) The establishment, issuance, effectuation, and administration of programs authorized under this section for advertising and promotion of dry peas and/or lentils; and
(b) The establishment and effectuation of market research projects, market development projects, or both to the end that marketing and utilization of dry peas and/or lentils may be encouraged, expanded, improved, or made more efficient.
(3) "Act" means the Washington State Agriculture ((Enabling Act of 1961)) Commodity Boards Act or chapter 15.65 RCW.
(4) "Person" means any ((person)) individual, firm, ((association or)) corporation, limited liability company, trust, association, partnership, society, or any other organization of individuals or any unit or agency of local or state government.
(13) "Affected area" means ((that portion of)) the state of Washington ((located east of the summit of the Cascade Mountains)).
(15) "Affected unit" means one hundred pounds of ((cleaned)) dry peas and/or lentils.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.65 RCW. 82-15-020 (Order 1768), § 16-536-010, filed 7/13/82; Marketing Order Article I § A, filed 3/26/65.]
(a) The board shall consist of ten members. Eight members shall be affected producers ((elected)) appointed as provided in this ((article)) marketing order. One member shall be an affected handler ((elected)) appointed as provided in this ((article)) marketing order. The director shall appoint one member of the board who is neither an affected producer nor an affected handler to represent the ((department and the public)) director. The position representing the director shall be a voting member.
(b) For the purpose of nomination and ((election)) appointment of producer members of the board, the affected area of the state of Washington shall be divided into four representative districts as follows:
(iv) District IV shall have two board members, being positions 7 and 8 and shall include all other counties of the state of Washington ((located east of the summit of the Cascade Mountains)): Provided, That the addition of another member, being position 8, shall not become effective until approved by a referendum vote of the affected commercial wrinkled pea seed producers.
(a) The ((affected)) producer members of the board ((shall)) must be practical producers of dry peas and/or lentils in the district in and for which they are nominated and ((elected)) appointed and each shall be a citizen((s)) and resident((s)) of the state ((of Washington)), over the age of ((twenty-five)) eighteen years((, each of whom is and has)). Each producer board member must be and have been actually engaged in producing dry peas and/or lentils within the state of Washington for a period of five years and has during that time derived a substantial portion of his or her income therefrom and ((who)) is not engaged in business, directly or indirectly, as a handler or other dealer.
(b) The ((affected)) handler member of the board ((shall)) must be a practical handler of dry peas and/or lentils and shall be a citizen and resident of the state ((of Washington)), over the age of ((twenty-five)) eighteen years and who is and has been, either individually or as an officer or an employee of a corporation, firm, partnership, association or cooperative actually engaged in handling dry peas and/or lentils within the state of Washington for a period of five years and has during that period derived a substantial portion of his or her income therefrom.
(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)) appointed each year.
(b) Membership positions on the board shall be designated numerically; affected producers shall have positions one through ((seven)) eight, the affected handler shall have position ((eight)) nine and the member ((appointed by)) representing the director position ((nine)) ten.
Positions ((one, two and three)) seven, eight, nine, and ten - one year
Positions ((seven, eight, nine, and ten)) one, two, and three - three years
((No elected)) (d) Except for the director's representative, no appointed member of the board may serve more than two full consecutive three-year terms.
(5) Nomination ((and election)) of director-appointed board members.
(a) For the purpose of nominating candidates for ((election)) appointment to board membership the director shall call separate meetings of affected producers and affected handlers.
(b) Each year the director shall call ((for)) a nomination meeting((s)) for director-appointed board members in those districts whose board members term is about to expire. ((Such)) The meeting(s) shall be held at least thirty days in advance of the date set by the director for the ((election)) advisory vote of board members.
(c) Notice of ((every such)) a nomination meeting shall be published in newspapers of general circulation within the affected district 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 within such affected district and handlers according to the list maintained by the ((director pursuant to RCW 15.65.200 of the act)) board pursuant to RCW 15.65.295.
(d) Nonreceipt of notice by any interested person shall not invalidate the proceedings at ((such)) a nomination meeting.
(e) Any qualified affected producer or handler may be nominated orally for membership on the board at ((such)) a nomination meeting((s)). Nominations may also be made within five days after ((any such)) the meeting by written petition filed with the director signed by not less than five affected producers or affected handlers.
(f) If the board moves and the director approves that the nomination meeting procedure be deleted, the director shall give notice of the ((vacancy)) open board position(s) by mail to all affected producers and handlers. Nominating petitions for producers and handlers shall be signed by not less than five affected producers and handlers. Final date for filing nominations shall be not less than twenty days after the notice was mailed.
(6) ((Election)) Advisory vote of board members.
(a) ((Members of the board shall be elected by secret mail ballot within the month of May)) An advisory vote shall be conducted by secret ballot under the supervision of the director within the month of May. Each affected producer and affected handler shall be entitled to one vote. ((Affected producer members of the board shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by the affected producers within the affected district. Each affected producer shall be entitled to one vote. The affected handler member of the board shall be elected by a majority of votes cast by the affected handlers. Each affected handler shall be entitled to one vote.))
(b) ((If a nominee does not receive a majority of the votes on the first ballot a runoff election shall be held by mail in a similar manner between the two candidates for such position receiving the largest number of votes.)) An advisory vote shall be conducted for board members appointed by the director under the provisions of RCW 15.65.243. The names of the two candidates receiving the most votes in the advisory vote shall be forwarded to the director for potential appointment to the board. In the event there are only two candidates nominated for a board position, an advisory vote may not be held and the candidates' names shall be forwarded to the director for potential appointment.
(c) Notice of every ((election)) advisory vote for board membership shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the affected district not less than ten days in advance of the date of ((such election)) the advisory vote. Not less than ten days prior to every ((election)) advisory vote for board membership, the director shall mail a ballot of the candidates to each affected producer and affected handler entitled to vote whose name appears upon the list of such affected producers and affected handlers maintained by the ((director in accordance with RCW 15.65.200)) board pursuant to RCW 15.65.295. Any other affected producer or affected handler entitled to vote may obtain a ballot by application to the director upon establishing his or her qualifications.
(d) Nonreceipt of a ballot by an affected producer or affected handler shall not invalidate the ((election)) advisory vote 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.)) In the event of a vacancy in a director-appointed position, the position shall be filled as specified in RCW 15.65.270.
(9) Board compensation. No member of the board shall receive any salary or other compensation, but each member ((shall receive ten dollars for each day in actual attendance on or traveling to and from meetings of the board or on special assignment for the board, together with subsistence and traveling expense at the rate allowed by law to state employees: Provided, That the method of determining whether per diem rates or actual subsistence and lodging shall be allowed shall be determined by resolution or rule of the board in advance of the incurrence of such expenses by a board member)) may be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.230 and shall be reimbursed for subsistence, lodging, and mileage in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, as provided for in RCW 15.65.270. The board may adopt by resolution provisions for reimbursement of actual travel expenses incurred by members and employees of the board in carrying out the provisions of this marketing order pursuant to RCW 15.65.270.
(f) To establish a "dry pea and lentil 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.
(s) To enter into contracts or agreements for research in the production, irrigation, processing, transportation, marketing, use, or distribution of dry peas and lentils.
(v) To participate in international, federal, state, and local hearings, meetings, and other proceedings relating to the production, irrigation, manufacture, regulation, transportation, distribution, sale, or use of dry peas and lentils including activities authorized under RCW 42.17.190, including the reporting of those activities to the public disclosure commission.
(x) To maintain a list of the names and addresses of persons who handle dry peas and lentils within the affected area and data on the amount and value of the dry peas and lentils handled for a minimum three-year period by each person pursuant to RCW 15.65.280.
(y) To maintain a list of the names and addresses of all affected persons who produce dry peas and lentils and the amount, by unit, of dry peas and lentils produced during the past three years pursuant to RCW 15.65.295.
(z) To maintain a list of all persons who handle dry peas and lentils and the amount of dry peas and lentils handled by each person during the past three years pursuant to RCW 15.65.295.
(a) The board shall hold regular meetings((, at least quarterly,)) with the time and date thereof to be fixed by resolution of the board and the meetings shall be held in accordance with chapter 42.30 RCW (Open Public Meetings Act). The notice of the time and place of regular meetings shall be published on or before January of each year in the Washington State Register. Notice of any change to the meeting schedule shall be published in the state register at least twenty days prior to the rescheduled meeting date.
(c) The board shall establish by resolution, the time, place and manner of calling special meetings with reasonable notice to the members: Provided, That the notice to a member of any special meeting may be waived by a waiver ((thereof by each)) from that member of the board. Notice for special meetings shall be in compliance with chapter 42.30 RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.65.050. 95-17-117 (Order 5079), § 16-536-020, filed 8/23/95, effective 9/23/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.65 RCW. 82-15-020 (Order 1768), § 16-536-020, filed 7/13/82; Marketing Order Article II, §§ A through K, filed 3/26/65.]
(a) The assessment on all varieties of dry peas and dry lentils subject to this marketing order shall be one and one-half percent of the net receipts at the first point of sale and shall be deducted by the first purchaser from the price paid to the grower. Such assessment shall be remitted to the commission board in accordance with procedures adopted by the commission board: Provided, That ((such)) an assessment on commercial wrinkled pea seed shall not become effective unless approved by a referendum vote of the affected wrinkled pea seed producers.
(b) ((Such)) Assessments shall not be payable on any such dry peas and/or lentils used by the producer thereof on his premises for feed, seed and personal consumption.
(2) Collections. Any moneys collected or received by the board pursuant to the provisions of ((the)) this 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)) this 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)) the 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)) this 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)) unpaid assessment to defray the cost of enforcing the collecting of ((the same)) it. 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)) the person or persons in a state court of competent jurisdiction for the collection thereof, together with the above specified ten percent ((thereon)), and ((such)) the action shall be tried and judgment rendered as in any other cause of action for debt due and payable.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.65 RCW. 86-15-002 (Order 1895), § 16-536-040, filed 7/3/86, effective 8/4/86; 82-15-020 (Order 1768), § 16-536-040, filed 7/13/82; Order 1533, § 16-536-040, filed 6/8/77; Marketing Order Article IV, §§ A through C, filed 3/26/65.]
[Marketing Order Article VI, § A, filed 3/26/65.]