RCW 15.65.028
Regulating agricultural commodities—Existing comprehensive scheme.
The history, economy, culture, and the future of Washington state to a large degree all involve agriculture. In order to develop and promote Washington's agricultural products as part of the existing comprehensive scheme to regulate agricultural commodities, the legislature declares:
(1) That the marketing of agricultural products within this state is in the public interest. It is vital to the continued economic well-being of the citizens of this state and their general welfare that its agricultural commodities be properly promoted by (a) enabling producers of agricultural commodities to help themselves in establishing orderly, fair, sound, efficient, and unhampered marketing, grading, and standardizing of the commodities they produce and (b) working towards stabilizing the agricultural industry by increasing consumption of agricultural commodities within the state, the nation, and internationally;
(2) That farmers and ranchers operate within a regulatory environment that imposes burdens on them for the benefit of society and the citizens of the state and includes restrictions on marketing autonomy. Those restrictions may impair the agricultural producer's ability to compete in local, domestic, and foreign markets;
(3) That it is now in the overriding public interest that support for the agricultural industry be clearly expressed, that adequate protection be given to agricultural commodities, uses, activities, and operations, and that each agricultural commodity be promoted individually, and as part of a comprehensive industry to:
(a) Enhance the reputation and image of Washington state's agricultural commodities;
(b) Increase the sale and use of Washington state's agricultural commodities 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 agricultural commodities;
(d) Increase the knowledge of the health-giving qualities and dietetic value of Washington state's agricultural commodities and products; and
(e) Support and engage in programs or activities that benefit the planting, production, harvesting, handling, processing, marketing, and uses of agricultural commodities produced in Washington state;
(4) That the director seek to enhance, protect, and perpetuate the ability of the private sector to produce food and fiber, and seek to maintain the economic well-being of the agricultural industry in Washington state consistent with its regulatory activities and responsibilities;
(5) That the director is hereby authorized to implement, administer, and enforce this chapter through the adoption of marketing orders that establish commodity boards; and
(6) That this chapter is enacted in the exercise of the police powers of this state for the purpose of protecting the health, peace, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state.
[ 2002 c 313 § 2.]
NOTES:
Effective dates—2002 c 313: See note following RCW 15.65.020.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 15 - Agriculture and Marketing
Chapter 15.65 - Washington State Agricultural Commodity Boards.
15.65.028 - Regulating agricultural commodities—Existing comprehensive scheme.
15.65.033 - Regulating agricultural commodities—Laws applicable.
15.65.040 - Establishing a commodity board—Marketing order—Purposes.
15.65.043 - Board may establish foundation.
15.65.060 - Form, filing of marketing agreement, order, amendment, and other proceedings.
15.65.070 - Notice of hearing on proposal—Publication—Contents.
15.65.090 - Subpoenas—Compelling attendance of witnesses, fees—Immunity of witnesses.
15.65.110 - Filing objections to recommended decision—Final decision—Waiver.
15.65.120 - Contents and scope of recommended and final decision—Delivery of copies.
15.65.160 - Ascertainment of required assent percentages.
15.65.170 - Issuance or amendment of marketing order—Assent—Rules.
15.65.183 - Termination of marketing order or agreement—Petition—Procedure.
15.65.185 - Referendum prior to termination of a marketing order or agreement—Procedure—Exceptions.
15.65.190 - Termination of agreement or order on assent of producers—Procedure.
15.65.193 - When marketing order or agreement is terminated—Duties of affected commodity board.
15.65.200 - Lists of affected parties—Information used to establish lists—Purpose and use.
15.65.230 - Qualifications of members of commodity boards.
15.65.235 - Producer-handlers as producers for membership purposes—Exception.
15.65.240 - Terms of members of commodity boards—Elections or appointment.
15.65.250 - Nominations for election to commodity board—When only one nominee.
15.65.260 - Election of members of commodity board—Procedure.
15.65.280 - Powers and duties of commodity board—Reservation of power to director.
15.65.287 - Commission's plans, programs, and projects—Director's approval required.
15.65.289 - Commission speaks for state—Director's oversight.
15.65.300 - Agreement or order to contain detailed statement of powers and purposes.
15.65.305 - Promotional hosting expenditures—Rules.
15.65.310 - Advertising, sale, trade barrier, claim, etc., provisions in agreement or order.
15.65.320 - Agreement and order provisions for research.
15.65.330 - Agreement and order provisions for uniform grades and standards—Enforcement—Rules.
15.65.340 - Agreement and order provisions prohibiting or regulating certain practices.
15.65.350 - Agreement and order to define applicable area—"Production area"—"Marketing area."
15.65.370 - Agreement or order not to prohibit or discriminatorily burden marketing.
15.65.380 - Additional agreement or order provisions.
15.65.390 - Annual assessment—Limitation generally.
15.65.400 - Rate of assessment.
15.65.410 - Time, place, method for payment and collection of assessments.
15.65.420 - Use of moneys collected—Departmental expenses.
15.65.430 - Refunds of moneys received or collected.
15.65.440 - Assessments personal debt—Additional percentage if not paid—Civil action to collect.
15.65.450 - Deposit to defray department's expenses—Circumstances requiring reimbursement.
15.65.470 - Depositaries for revolving fund—Deposits.
15.65.480 - Separate accounts for each agreement or order—Disbursements.
15.65.490 - Records of financial transactions to be kept by director—Audits.
15.65.500 - Bonds of administrator, board, employee.
15.65.510 - Information and inspections required—Hearings—Confidentiality and disclosures.
15.65.520 - Criminal acts and penalties.
15.65.530 - Civil liability—Use of moneys recovered.
15.65.540 - Jurisdiction of superior courts—Who may bring action.
15.65.560 - Remedies additional.
15.65.570 - Proceedings subject to administrative procedure act—Exemptions.
15.65.600 - Public interest to be protected—Establishment of prices prohibited.
15.65.640 - Chapter not to apply to green pea grower or processor.
15.65.650 - Hop commodity board—Powers.
15.65.670 - Costs of implementing RCW 15.65.287.