Title 15 — Title 15 AGRICULTURE AND MARKETING

Whenever the form of evidence of financial responsibility for a structural pest inspector license is reduced below the requirements of RCW 15.58.465 or no longer applies to the structural pest inspector, or whenever the licensee or the business that employs the licensee has faile…

The department must develop educational materials regarding the best practices for avoiding adverse effects from pesticides on populations of bees, honey bees, and other pollinating insects. The educational materials must include, but not be limited to, measures that anyone apply…

(1) Beginning January 1, 2026, a person may not use neonicotinoid insecticides on nonproduction outdoor ornamental plants, trees, and turf in this state, unless the application is made as part of a licensed application, a tree injection, or during the production of an agricultura…

The repeal of RCW 15.57.010 through 15.57.930 and the enactment of this chapter shall not be deemed to have repealed any rules adopted under the provisions of RCW 15.57.010 through 15.57.930 in effect immediately prior to such repeal and not inconsistent with the provisions of th…

The enactment of this chapter shall not have the effect of terminating, or in any way modifying, any liability, civil or criminal, which shall already be in existence on the date this chapter becomes effective.[ 1971 ex.s. c 190 s 44.]

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:(1) "Department" means the department of agriculture of the state of Washington.(2) "Director" means the director of the state department of agriculture or the director's …

The director may establish an apiary advisory committee including members representing the major segments of the apiary industry including commercial and noncommercial beekeepers, representatives from the Washington State University apiary program or cooperative extension, and re…

(1) Each person owning one or more hives with bees, brokers renting hives, and apiarists resident in other states who operate hives in Washington shall register with the director by April 1st each year.(2) The registration application shall include:(a) The name, address, and phon…

A late fee of one and one-half percent per month shall be assessed on registration fees received after April 1st.[ 2000 c 100 s 4; 1994 c 178 s 5; 1993 c 89 s 10; 1988 c 4 s 8; 1981 c 296 s 9; 1977 ex.s. c 362 s 9. Formerly RCW 15.60.043.]Notes:Severability—1981 c 296: See note f…

All money collected under this chapter shall be placed in an account in the agricultural local fund. Money in the account shall be used to carry out the purposes of this chapter and may be used for apiary-related activities of the department or funding research projects of benefi…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.(2) A second or subsequent violation is a gross misdemeanor.(3) Whenever…

When the county legislative authority determines that it would be desirable to establish an apiary coordinated area or areas in their county, they shall make an order fixing a time and place when a hearing will be held, notice of which shall be published at least once each week f…

Within thirty days after the conclusion of any such hearing the county legislative authority shall make an order describing the apiary coordinated areas within the county as to the maximum allowable number of hives per site, the minimum allowable distance between sites, and the m…

When the county legislative authority of any county deems it advisable to change the boundary or boundaries of any apiary coordinated area, a hearing shall be held in the same manner as provided in RCW 15.60.065. If the county legislative authority decides to change the boundary …

The county legislative authority of any county with a population of from forty thousand to less than seventy thousand located east of the Cascade crest and bordering in the southern side of the Snake river shall have the power to designate by an order made and published, as provi…

A person who owns or operates an apiary, is a registered apiarist under RCW 15.60.021, and conforms to all applicable city, town, or county ordinances regarding beekeeping, is not liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions in connection with the keeping and maintaining of…

This act takes effect June 30, 2001.[ 2000 c 100 s 9.]

The director of agriculture in order to protect the production of native and/or domestic plants or their products in this state, may declare ladybugs or any other insects to be beneficial insects and necessary to maintain a beneficial biological balance over insects which are det…

The director of agriculture may cooperate and enter into agreements with governmental agencies, other states, and agencies of the federal government to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter or rules adopted hereunder.[ 1963 c 232 s 11.]

The director of agriculture may bring an action to enjoin the violation of any provision of this chapter or rule adopted pursuant to said sections in the county where such violation has occurred, notwithstanding the existence of any other remedies at law.[ 1963 c 232 s 12.]

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to honey bees or to those beneficial insects used for research purposes.[ 1963 c 232 s 13.]

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any person violating the provisions of this chapter or rules adopted hereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor.(2) A second or subsequent violation is a gross misdemeanor. Any offense committed more than five years after a prev…

The purpose of this chapter is to advance the public welfare and education and to promote the interest, products, services, and stabilization of Washington's honey bee industry.The legislature finds that:(1) Increasing the consumption of products of the honey bee industry and pro…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:(1) "Affected person" means an apiarist, manufacturer, processor, first handler, broker, or volunteer who shall pay to the commission the minimum assessments required in R…

The Washington state honey bee commission shall be established following approval of a referendum by a majority of the affected apiarists and brokers, as set forth in RCW 15.62.140(4) for assessment increases.[ 1989 c 5 s 3.]

The commission shall have the following powers and duties:(1) To elect a chairperson and other officers as it deems advisable;(2) To promulgate rules and regulations under the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, and RCW 15.04.200 as necessary to effectuate the purpos…

The commission shall consist of the following members:(1) Apiarist position one shall represent area one, which includes the counties of Whatcom, San Juan[,] Island, Skagit, Snohomish, and King; and(2) Apiarist position two shall represent area two, which includes the counties of…

(1) Commission positions one through seven shall be filled by persons who meet the following requirements:(a) Resident of this state;(b) Resident of the area they represent; and(c) Actually engaged in owning, operating, or as a broker of bee colonies for the five years immediatel…

(1) The regular terms of office of each elected member of the commission shall be three years, except that the term of office for the initial members shall be as follows:(a) Positions for areas one, four, and seven - one year.(b) Positions for areas two, five, and eight - two yea…

(1) Apiarist members of the commission shall be nominated and elected by the apiarists within the district they are to represent in the year in which a member's term expires. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast shall be elected. The election shall be by secre…

(1)(a) The director shall cause a list to be prepared of all apiarists, as defined in RCW 15.62.020, from the list of apiarists registered with the department under *RCW 15.60.030. A qualified person may, at any time, have his or her name placed on the list by registering with th…

The commission shall reimburse the director for the actual costs incurred in conducting the elections and referendums, and acquiring lists of affected persons.[ 1989 c 5 s 9.]

(1) A majority of the commission members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the commission.(2) Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for travel expenses, as prescribed by the commission, for each day spent in attendance at, or traveling to an…

Copies of the proceedings, records, and acts of the commission, when certified by the secretary, shall be admissible in any court and be evidence of the truth of the statements therein contained.[ 1989 c 5 s 11.]

The commission may elect an executive secretary who is not a member and fix his or her compensation and may appoint a treasurer who shall sign all vouchers and receipts for moneys received by the commission. The commission shall purchase for each of its members a fidelity bond ex…

(1) The commission shall collect annual assessments as follows:(a) Twenty-five cents for each colony operated by an apiarist or broker in Washington at any time in a calendar year. Each colony shall be assessed only once per calendar year. There shall be a minimum assessment of t…

(1) All assessments shall be collected by the commission on a quarterly basis or as otherwise determined by the commission.(2) The commission shall create a local fund in a local financial institution approved by the director and shall deposit therein, each day, all moneys receiv…

A person shall be entitled to a refund of assessed money held by the commission fund when it has been determined by the commission that the affected person was assessed and made payment in error.[ 1989 c 5 s 16.]

(1) Each apiarist and broker shall keep accurate records of the number of colonies owned or operated during each calendar year.(2) Each manufacturer shall keep accurate records of gross sales of industry products or manufactured goods sold in the state of Washington.(3) Each proc…

Each affected person shall, as required, file with the commission a return under oath on forms to be furnished by the commission, stating the information requested by the commission regarding the ownership, handling, processing, manufacturing, delivering, shipping, sale, and brok…

The commission through its agents may audit the records of any affected person for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter. The commission must first notify the affected person of their intention to audit and may request supporting documents of the affected person…

The state shall not be liable for the acts or on the contracts of the commission, nor shall any member or employee of the commission be liable on its contracts.All salaries, expenses, and liabilities incurred by persons employed or contracting under this chapter for the commissio…

Any person who violates or aids in the violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the commission shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.[ 1989 c 5 s 22.]

(1) Any prosecution brought under this chapter may be instituted in any county in which the defendant or any defendant resides, or in which the violation was committed, or in which the defendant or any defendant has his or her principal place of business.(2) The commission is her…

In the seventh year following the inception of the commission, a referendum shall be conducted by the department of agriculture to determine if the commission is still desired by the beekeeping industry in Washington. The commission shall continue if the director finds that affec…

The commission shall be terminated or suspended if the director finds that apiarists and brokers voting in a referendum conducted as for an assessment increase in RCW 15.62.140(4) voted in favor of such termination or suspension. A referendum may be called by a majority of the co…

This chapter shall be liberally construed to effectuate the policies and purpose set forth herein.[ 1989 c 5 s 24.]

The director shall investigate and promote the economical and efficient distribution of farm products, and in so doing may cooperate with federal agencies and agencies of this and other states engaged in similar activities. For such purposes he or she may:(1) Maintain a market ne…

The director shall enact rules and regulations governing the pursuit of technical studies of farm marketing problems. Said studies shall be under the supervision of the director of the experimental station of Washington State University. The extension service of Washington State …

Moneys appropriated to the department for agricultural marketing research shall be expended by the department to further studies by the department, the experiment station of Washington State University and the extension service of Washington State University. The studies shall be…