03/27/1998 01:50 PM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 144                                                             
                                                                               
"An Act authorizing the Department of Environmental                            
Conservation to charge certain fees relating to                                
registration of pesticides and broadcast chemicals; and                        
providing for an effective date."                                              
                                                                               
House Bill 144 was previously heard in Committee on 2/25/98,                   
3/06/98, 3/20/98, 3/24/98, and 3/26/98.  Co-Chair Therriault                   
provided members with Amendment 13 (copy on file).  He                         
explained that Amendment 13 would conform section 2, which                     
pertains to negotiated fees.  Language pertaining to the                       
fixed fee would be the same as the negotiated fee, so that                     
the hourly rate would be identical.                                            
                                                                               
Co-Chair Therriault MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 13.  There                        
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                         
                                                                               
Co-Chair Therriault discussed the fiscal note by the                           
Department of Environmental Conservation.  He observed that                    
the fiscal note would need further review and negotiation to                   
determine if the fund source changes are appropriate.  He                      
observed that $1.7 million dollars would be switched from                      
general fund program receipts to general fund dollars.                         
                                                                               
In response to a question by Representative Martin, Co-Chair                   
Therriault explained that some fixed costs would no longer                     
be passed into fees.                                                           
                                                                               
Representative Davies summarized that the State would                          
receive $1.7 million dollars less through fees.  Instead of                    
receiving $1.7 million dollars from applicants the money                       
would come from the general fund.  Co-Chair Therriault noted                   
that general fund expenditures would not change.                               
Expenditures by the Department of Environmental Conservation                   
would not be increased.                                                        
                                                                               
Representative Mulder MOVED to report CSHB 144 (FIN) out of                    
Committee with the accompanying fiscal note.   There being                     
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                               
                                                                               
CSHB 144 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with "no                          
recommendation" and with a zero fiscal note by the                             
Department of Environmental Conservation.