Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 15 Agriculture And Marketing - Chapter 15.62 Honey Bee Commission

15.62.010 Purpose and findings
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 ...

15.62.020 Definitions
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, ...

15.62.030 Commission established by referendum
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 ...

15.62.040 Powers and duties of commission
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 ...

15.62.050 Commission compositions -- Eleven positions
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, ...

15.62.060 Position qualifications
(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 ...

15.62.070 Terms of office -- Vacancies
(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 ...

15.62.080 Apiarist members -- Election
(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 ...

15.62.090 Notice, elections, referenda -- Lists of apiarists, manufacturers, processors, and first handlers
(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 ...

15.62.100 Costs of elections and referendums -- Reimbursement
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 ...

15.62.110 Quorum -- Travel expenses
(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 ...

15.62.120 Certified copies of commission's proceedings, records, and acts -- Admissible in court
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 ...

15.62.130 Commission officers -- Members' fidelity bonds
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 ...

15.62.140 Assessments -- Minimum -- Increase
(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 ...

15.62.150 Assessments -- Collection -- Deposit in local fund -- Gifts, grants, and endowments -- Failure to remit assessment
(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 ...

15.62.160 Assessment error -- Refund
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 ...

15.62.170 Recordkeeping
(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 ...

15.62.180 Reporting
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 ...

15.62.190 Promotional printing and literature -- Exempt from public printing requirements
The restrictive provisions of chapter 43.78 RCW shall not apply to promotional printing and literature for the Washington state honey bee commission.[1989 c 5 § ...

15.62.200 Audit of records of affected persons
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 ...

15.62.210 Nonliability of state -- Salaries, expenses, and liabilities
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 ...

15.62.220 Violations -- Misdemeanor
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 ...

15.62.230 Prosecutions -- Superior court jurisdiction -- Equitable remedies
(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 ...

15.62.300 Termination, suspension, or continuance of commission
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 ...

15.62.310 Termination or suspension of commission
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 ...

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

15.62.910 Severability -- 1989 c 5
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application ...