Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 15 Agriculture And Marketing - Chapter 15.26 Tree Fruit Research Act

15.26.010 Short title
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "tree fruit research act."[1969 c 129 § 1.] ...

15.26.020 Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is for the creation of a commission which shall promote and carry on research and administer specific industry service programs, ...

15.26.030 Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context: (1) "Department" means the department of agriculture of the state ...

15.26.040 Tree fruit research commission created -- Membership
There is hereby created the Washington tree fruit research commission, to be thus known and designated. The commission shall be composed of nine members. Three ...

15.26.050 Qualifications of members
Nine members of the commission shall be producers who are citizens and residents of this state. Each producer member shall be over the age of ...

15.26.060 Appointment of members
The *apple advertising commission shall appoint producer members to positions one through five on the commission. The Washington state fruit commission shall appoint producer members ...

15.26.070 Terms of members
The terms of the members of commission shall be staggered and each shall serve for a term of three years and until their successor has ...

15.26.080 Vacancies
In the event a commission member resigns, is disqualified, or vacates his position on the commission for any other reason, the appointing agency that originally ...

15.26.090 Quorum
A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business and carrying out the duties of the ...

15.26.100 Compensation -- Travel expenses
Each member of the commission shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.230 and shall be reimbursed for actual travel expenses incurred in carrying out ...

15.26.110 Powers of commission
The powers of the commission shall include the following: (1) To elect a chairman, treasurer, and such other officers as it deems advisable; (2) To ...

15.26.120 Assessments levied -- Referendum
There is hereby levied on all commercial tree fruit produced in this state or held out as being produced in this state for fresh or ...

15.26.125 Assessment on cherries in excess of the fiscal growth factor under chapter 43.135 RCW -- Washington tree fruit research commission
The Washington tree fruit research commission may raise the assessment on cherries in excess of the fiscal growth factor under chapter 43.135 RCW from the ...

15.26.130 List of producers
The Washington apple commission and the Washington state fruit commission shall supply the director with a list of known producers subject to paying assessments to ...

15.26.140 Increase in assessments by referendum
The producers of tree fruit subject to the provisions of this chapter may subsequent to approving initial assessment increase such assessment by referendum when approved ...

15.26.150 Additional assessments for special projects
The producers of any specific tree fruit subject to the provisions of this chapter may at any time by referendum conducted by the department and ...

15.26.155 Additional assessment
The producers of tree fruit subject to the provisions of this chapter may at any time, by referendum conducted by the department and approved by ...

15.26.160 Suspension of assessments
The members of the commission may, subject to approval by two-thirds of the voting members of the commission, suspend for a period not exceeding one ...

15.26.170 Payment of assessments required before purchase, receipt or shipment of fruit
Such assessments will be due from the producers. No person shall purchase, or receive for sale, or shipment out of state any tree fruits subject ...

15.26.180 Records of persons receiving fruit
Any person receiving commercial tree fruits from any producer thereof or any producer of tree fruit who prepared or processed his own tree fruit for ...

15.26.190 Return of dealers, handlers, and processors -- Filing -- Contents
Every dealer, handler, and processor shall at such times as the commission may by rule or regulation require, file with the commission a return under ...

15.26.200 Assessments -- When due and payable -- Collection
Such assessments on tree fruits shall be due and payable by the producer thereof by the end of the next business day that such tree ...

15.26.210 Assessments -- Constitute personal debt
Any due and payable assessments herein levied shall constitute a personal debt of every person so assessed or who otherwise owes the same and shall ...

15.26.220 Assessments -- Failure to pay -- Collection
In the event any person fails to pay the full amount of such assessment or such other sum on or before the due date, the ...

15.26.230 Disposition of moneys collected -- Treasurer's bond
All money collected under the authority of this chapter shall be paid to the treasurer of the commission, and be deposited by him in banks ...

15.26.235 Collection, administration, and dispersal of funds for industry service programs
Funds collected and expenditures made for specific industry service programs shall be collected, administered, and dispersed separately from all other funds authorized and collected for ...

15.26.240 Nonliability of state, members, employees
Obligations incurred by the commission shall be enforced only against the assets of the commission in the same manner as if it were a corporation ...

15.26.250 Collection of assessments for commission by apple commission and state fruit commission
The Washington apple commission and Washington state fruit commission in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of costs and efforts in collecting assessments for tree fruits ...

15.26.260 Legal costs and expenses to be borne by commission
All legal costs and expenses that may be incurred in the collection of delinquent accounts owed this commission shall be borne by the commission; except ...

15.26.265 Funding staff support -- Rules
The director may provide by rule for a method to fund staff support for all commodity boards and commissions in accordance with RCW 43.23.033 if ...

15.26.270 Copies of commission's proceedings, records, acts as evidence
Copies of the commission's proceedings, records, and acts when certified by the secretary and authenticated by the commission's seal shall be admissible in all courts ...

15.26.280 Moneys collected retained by commission
All moneys collected by the commission under the provisions of this chapter shall be retained by the commission for the purpose of carrying out the ...

15.26.290 Contracts with public or private agencies to carry out chapter
The commission may enter into agreement or contract with any private person or any private or public agency whether federal, state or local in order ...

15.26.295 Certain records exempt from public disclosure -- Exceptions -- Actions not prohibited by chapter
(1) Under RCW 42.56.380, certain agricultural business records, commission records, and department of agriculture records relating to the commission and producers of agricultural commodities are ...

15.26.300 Violations -- Penalty
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any person violating any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted hereunder ...

15.26.900 Chapter cumulative
The provisions of this chapter shall be cumulative and nonexclusive and shall not affect any other remedy.[1969 c 129 § 32.] ...

15.26.910 Severability -- 1969 c 129
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application ...