As session progresses, so do WSDA bills

Hannah Street
Policy Office

In the final stretch of the 2018 legislative session, legislation requested by WSDA is advancing through the lawmaking process. These bills are developed on behalf of a WSDA program by the Policy Office team working with stakeholders, industry experts, legislators, and legislative staff members to create new legislation or update a current statute, and usher it through the legislative process.

Agency request legislation

This session, WSDA is running five agency request bills. Several of them have companion bills, meaning there’s a version of the bill in both the House and Senate. 

For example, the bill updating the fairs statute has a House version, HB2725, and a Senate version, SB6368. The Senate version passed through a Senate committee and then the full Senate approved it by a vote of 47-0. It then crossed over to the House, where it’s going through the same process. The House version follows the same sequence, eventually crossing over to the Senate. At some point, only one of these bills moves forward where it waits to be signed into law by the governor.

It takes a village

If you’re in the Natural Resources Building, you may have seen a few WSDA people walking out of the building looking spiffier than usual. Generally, these folks, including Steve Fuller, Laura Butler, Larry Sheahan, Director Derek Sandison and I, are on our way to testify on bills. 

Testimony before committees is an opportunity for the agency to express its support for our request bills, or to weigh in on bills that affect WSDA or the agricultural community. For example, Director Sandison has testified twice on House Bill 2671, which includes WSDA on a proposed work group to improve the behavioral health of agriculture workers. 

In addition to policy team members, other WSDA staffers with expertise in specific areas testify on bills. For example, Brad White, assistant director of the Plant Protection Division, testified on House Bill 2682, which would exempt hop-grower lot information from public disclosure. Others, such as Jason Ferrante, Commodity Inspection Division assistant director, and Jodi Jones, Animal Health Division coordinator, have attended hearings with policy staff to provide technical support.   

Next steps

Other WSDA legislation is still going through the process, including bills on: 

• Removing a certificate of veterinary inspection exemption applying to animals imported into the state (HB2674 and SB6359).
• Implementing the federal produce safety rule (SB6319).
• Updating current food safety statute (SB6318). 

The current 30-day session is scheduled to end on March 8. Watch this Insider blog for a wrap-up of legislative results after session. 

In summary: As most of us tend to our day-to-day work, state lawmakers are in Olympia considering bills that would affect WSDA and the agriculture industry we serve. Learn the latest in our Insider blog.

WSDA begins licensing foods made with hemp seed

Kathy Davis
Communications 

WSDA’s Food Safety Program last month began licensing foods made with hemp seeds. Only foods made with sterile hemp seeds, with low THC levels and no CBD will be allowed under manufacturers’ general food processing licenses. 

THC is short for tetrahydrocannabinol – it’s the psychoactive chemical in cannabis that makes users high. CBD is cannabidiol, another chemical in cannabis that’s not psychoactive and is used for relief of pain, anxiety and other conditions. CBD food products, including nutritional and dietary supplements, are not allowed under Washington state law. 

Because cannabis – marijuana and hemp – is listed as an illegal drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act, WSDA Director Derek Sandison directed the Food Safety Program to research the legality of allowing hemp seeds in food products. 

“The issues around use of hemp and marijuana plants can be confusing,” noted Mike Tokos, assistant manager of the Food Safety Program. “It can be kind of a gray area.” 

Individual states, such as Washington, have legalized recreational marijuana use through citizen initiative. Also, the 2014 federal farm bill specifically allows states to establish pilot research programs for growing and processing industrial hemp. 

Upon studying information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Department of Agriculture, the program determined that these federal agencies do not restrict the use of sterile hemp seeds with THC levels at 0.3 percent or less. 

Companies using hemp seeds in or as food will need to file an amendment under their current food processing license with WSDA. 

Food products made from hemp seeds – also called hemp nuts – include energy and breakfast bars, granola, butter and milks. The seeds can also be ground into flour or meal and be used in breads and other baked products. 

The advocacy group Vote Hemp, along with the Hemp Business Journal, estimate the 2017 retail value of hemp seed foods in the U.S. was $129.3 million. 

According to Mike, the Food Safety Program will not be actively investigating hemp foods on the market in Washington for the time being. However if staff finds a food product that does not meet state standards, especially when THC or CBD levels are a concern, investigation and compliance action could result.

In summary: Our Food Safety Program has begun licensing foods made with sterile hemp seeds. Read about the how and why on the Insider blog. 

Farm Bill, international treaties shape WSDA priorities

Derek Sandison
WSDA Director

Excerpted from a column provided to the Tri-City Herald for its annual Progress Edition. 

Derek Sandison visiting a market in Jalisco,
Mexico on a 2017 trade mission.

Our agency’s primary purpose is to support Washington’s agricultural and food sectors while working to foster sound consumer protections and natural resource policies. I’m pleased to discuss some of our accomplishments and a look forward.

Travelling for agriculture 

Last May, I participated in a trade mission to Mexico. Led by Gov. Inslee, Washington’s delegation visited Guadalajara and Mexico City, meeting with government officials and generally demonstrating the importance of Mexico as a market for Washington agricultural exports, particularly apples and dairy products.

I expect to join U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials on a mission to Guatemala in February and travel to Mexico City with the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association in June 2018 to continue to promote Washington state agricultural products.

Derek, second from right, with a delegation in Washington
D.C. talking to federal officials about the farm bill,
 trade and food safety.

In addition to driving and flying to many areas of our state, I spend a considerable amount of time in Washington, D.C. meeting with representatives of the administration, USDA and other agency officials, as well as members of Congress and their staff. 

Through these visits, often times with industry representatives or my counterparts from other states, I am able to address federal issues affecting our industry such as the farm bill, international trade, and regulatory matters. 

U.S. farm bill

The farm bill, renewed every five years, is the primary agricultural and food policy tool of the federal government. It includes titles on commodity programs, trade, rural development, farm credit, crop insurance, conservation, agricultural research, food and nutrition, and more.

I have worked with Washington State University President Kirk Schulz’s office and his staff to develop a comprehensive state farm bill priorities document. It has been sent to members of Washington’s congressional delegation, as well as to the chairs and members of the Senate and House agriculture committees. Given the importance of the farm bill to Washington’s agricultural industry, I will be working hard to help ensure a positive outcome for our state.

Trade

We are in a time of great uncertainty with respect to international trade. With the recent adoption of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by 11 nations, Washington’s agricultural industry finds itself at a competitive disadvantage in the Asian-Pacific trade arena unless the administration reconsiders its position on TPP, or makes significant progress on developing bilateral agreements with Asian-Pacific countries.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation has been a tumultuous process and has the potential for undermining the tremendous gains that both the U.S. and Washington agricultural industries have made through the implementation of NAFTA. We are all hopeful that agreement on a modernized NAFTA can be reached without harm to agriculture.

Consumer protection

WSDA Weights and Measures Program staff
inspecting a fuel pump.

Our new Produce Safety Program operates under a five-year grant from the Food and Drug Administration. Its mission is to help growers comply with new requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act. Our work includes workshops for producers on how to meet the new standards. 

And, our Weights and Measures inspectors are doing more than the usual monitoring of gas pumps and scales for accuracy. The team collaborated with financial institutions to combat fraud by inspecting fuel dispensers for credit card skimmers, which can steal credit and debit card information from unsuspecting consumers. 

New greenhouse 

The 2017 spring dedication of our 4,800 square-foot greenhouse at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center at Prosser is also noteworthy. It replaces a smaller greenhouse we’ve operated there for decades. 

The $750,000 greenhouse features improved temperature and advanced irrigation controls and increases private industry’s capacity to sell virus-tested, disease-free stock to orchardists and fruit producers. It was built with fees from the WSDA’s Fruit Tree Certification Program and assessments paid by state nurseries that sell fruit trees.

Derek at ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new greenhouse
in Prosser.

Looking ahead at WSDA

We’ve started the long process of updating our website at WSDA, which hasn’t been revised in at least a decade. Web technology is a dynamic tool, increasing efficiencies for our staff and facilitating online services for our stakeholders—even allowing for renewal of licenses and paying for the license online. 

WSDA is hosting  this year’s annual meeting of ag communicators from across the U.S. Starting Sept. 30 in Richland, members of the Communications Officers of State Departments of Agriculture, an affiliate of the National Association of State Department of Agriculture, will promote a greater understanding of the role agriculture plays in our economy, food supply and culture. 

In summary: Director Sandison summarizes priority issues he’s been working on for Washington’s agricultural industry.

Eight win prizes in QUICK Award drawing

Mike Louisell
Communications

QUICK Awards are presented by employees who see their peers demonstrating good work and service to others – either inside or outside the agency. Here are the prize recipients from the third quarter drawing and why they received awards.

Dr. Amber Itle, assistant state veterinarian

Dr. Amber Itle, Animal Services Division, for a November presentation before the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee. Amber highlighted the value of WSDA’s Animal Disease Tractability Program and the Animal Health Program’s veterinary services.

Becca Sotelo, Director’s Office, for putting together several ads for The Seattle Times to publicize the fifth season of the TV series Washington Grown.

Paige Beck, Risk Management, Administrative Services, for coming in on her day off to assist with a Bovine Issues Working Group workshop. Paige provided insights about WSDA Emergency Operations Center activities and how our agency would activate the EOC when necessary.

Quinlyn Baine, Pest Program, and April Milan, Food Safety—both stationed in Olympia—for being among several employees who staffed WSDA’s booth at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup.

Ethan Estalilla, Pesticide Compliance Program, Moses Lake, for staffing WSDA’s booth at the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima. Again, Ethan was among many who contributed their time to promote WSDA activities and agriculture at the fair.

Ethan Estalilla, Moses Lake
Pesticide Compliance Office

Alvin Easter, Food Safety, Spokane, for providing technical assistance to industry stakeholders, conducting field-based inspections, mentoring staff members, and serving as the program’s inspection standard specialist.

Lyle Lemons, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program, East Wenatchee, for his contributions to a sampling project with the USDA.

Winners may contact Robin Schaffer in Olympia or Brandy Thompson in Wenatchee to select a prize.

March 30 next drawing deadline

If you catch one of your coworkers doing something special for staff or customers, let them know. You can find the QUICK Award form on the intranet. Forms are also available from your division coordinator or agency receptionists.

In summary: WSDA staff presented 96 QUICK Awards during the fourth quarter of 2017. Eight of their names were randomly drawn to receive prizes.

WSDA ranks well on worker safety measure

Ron Hussung
Enterprise Risk and Safety Office

Cameron Hendrickson, Craig Hatley, and Dave Holtzheimer, all with the
Colfax Grain Inspection Office, receive reflective vests as WSDA safety
recognition awards from Robert Ambriz, Eastern Washington safety officer.

Out of 145 Washington State government agencies, WSDA came out number three among those projected to have the lowest workers compensation claims costs for the next three years. 

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) administers the state’s industrial insurance program that covers costs incurred when an employee is injured on the job. L&I recently reported the “experience ratings” for employers in various industries. That assigned rate predicts how much better or worse an employer’s claims costs are likely to be in the future.

Only the departments of Ecology and Health were assigned lower rates than WSDA. While our rate did go up slightly since the last ratings period, it is still among the very lowest in state government. 

The experience rating, in part, determines the premiums WSDA pays L&I to be covered by the industrial insurance program. 

Think of it like your personal car insurance. Insurance companies factor in your age, gender, driving record and vehicle safety features to determine the premiums you pay for your coverage. 

Tim Stein, with the Pesticide Compliance
Program in Spokane, with his award for
recognition of safety performance.

 

L&I considers the risks inherent in the industry and types of jobs, and factors in previous experience to predict the expected costs of future accidents. WSDA is charged different amounts for types of job positions from relatively low-risk administrative desk work to more high-risk warehouse inspection. 

According to L&I’s website: “The lower the past accident costs, the lower the expectation of future costs and hence, the lower the premium rates charged to the employer. This provides an economic incentive to prevent accidents.”

Promoting safety and preventing accidents is an agencywide effort. The Safety Program is here to support you and we thank all WSDA employees for contributing toward this success. 

In summary: WSDA is among just three state agencies with the lowest projected workers compensation claims costs. Read more to learn what it means.

What’s new with WSDA performance and planning?

Kristin Rondeau
Performance and Planning Management Office

Much of WSDA’s operating funds are generated by fees for service. Occasionally, fee levels need to be adjusted. For the agency to make the case to raise fees on our customers, we must show that we’re providing services as efficiently as possible. 

As a result of interest by our customers and state lawmakers, Director Derek Sandison has instructed programs to undergo a formal review process before requesting any fee increase.

Members of the Performance and Planning Management Office, left to right, Amy-Jo Shriner,
Vicky Leonard, Nicole Wolf, and Kristin Rondeau (not pictured; Blanche Sobottke).

WSDA’s Performance and Planning Management Office (PPMO) is here to help with that process. Using Lean principles and other performance analysis and improvement techniques, we can help clarify whether and why a fee increase is needed. Involving stakeholders early in this review allows them to understand the issues and offer process improvement ideas.   

If your program is considering a service fee increase, contact our office (see contacts below) as soon as possible. 

Program manager communication

On Dec. 8, 2017, the agency’s program managers gathered for their first in-person meeting in 10 months. It kicked off a pilot project of quarterly program manager forums, organized by PPMO. The aim is to foster communication among this level of leadership and provide information of value related to their work. 

The December meeting included presentations on strategic planning, communications policies and resources, a Policy Office update and announcement of a Lean training opportunity. 

The next forum is scheduled for March, and PPMO has asked program managers for agenda ideas. 

Results Washington 2.0

Results Washington was created in 2013 as a vehicle for state government to report performance improvements to all state residents. Agencies regularly provide data on goals, leading indicators and

Gov. Jay Inslee facilitating a results review meeting as Rich Roesler,
Results Washington deputy director, looks on.

outcome measures. 

Based on a commitment to continuous improvement, Gov. Inslee and the Results Washington office are proposing to update the current framework. This could change what and how WSDA reports our data for Results Washington. 

Read the Insider blog post about the Results Washington Goal Council meeting WSDA hosted in September.

Contact us

The Performance and Planning Management Office wants to support you and your work. Please feel free to contact any of us. 

• Kristin Rondeau – Manager
• Blanche Sobottke – Writer, editor, analyst
• Vicky Leonard – Project manager, Lean
• Amy-Jo Shriner – Project manager, Lean
• Nicole Wolf – Performance, project support

In summary: Here’s an update on news and activities of the agency’s Performance and Planning Management Office, including fee proposal reviews and program manager forums.

Takes a village to track legislative action

Kathy Davis
Communications

The WSDA Policy Office leads the way. From left to right are Laura Butler,
Steve Fuller, Hannah Street and Larry Sheahan.

Annual legislative sessions are a busy time, especially for many WSDA employees. It takes a team effort and lots of coordination to make sure lawmakers are aware of the big impacts their work can have on agency operations. 

That’s especially true due to the high volume – as many as 3,000 to 4,000 bills are introduced during an average session. Of those, about 500 make it to the governor’s desk for signing. And WSDA tracks 700 to 800 pieces of legislation identified as affecting our agency during a session. 

The 2018 session began on Monday, Jan. 8. Being an even year, when a biennial budget is not on the table, this session is scheduled to last just 60 days, ending March 8. 

Prepping for session

Given the volume, time constraints and Washington’s citizen legislators who hail from various backgrounds, “The result is very little time or attention available to spend on any one issue,” said Larry Sheahan, director of WSDA’s Policy Office. “We rely on a network of agency experts to get through session.”

The Policy Office is the primary coordination point for all agency interaction with the Legislature. The team (see photo above) works with WSDA programs to develop, inform, implement, and respond to legislative activities. 

Last week, the office presented a session preview and refresher to many of the key staff who will provide support. These folks will be expected to review proposed bills, provide information, prepare fiscal notes, and perhaps even testify before a legislative committee. 

Key proposals and issues

For the 2018 session, WSDA is proposing six bills – called agency request legislation. Below are summaries. 

County Grange displays at state agricultural fairs
display the bounty of food grown in Washington.
One WSDA-proposed bill would affect fairs, youth
shows and exhibitions.

• Updating laws concerning agricultural fairs, youth shows, and exhibitions. Clarifies definitions, revises funding allocation, and changes commission appointments. 
• Concerning certificates of veterinary inspection for animals brought into the state. Aligns with federal rule by removing certificate of vet inspection exemptions for cattle imported into our state and headed to a Washington feed lot. 
• Implementing the federal Produce Safety rule. Gives WSDA authority to implement the new federal Produce Safety requirements. 
• Creating a new intrastate food safety chapter from existing food safety laws in intrastate commerce in food, drug, and cosmetics law.
• Exempting officers and employees of the Washington wine and beer commissions from civil service provisions.
• Exempting hop grower lot information used in WSDA’s export document from public disclosure. Responds to hop growers’ concerns that providing lot numbers could affect competition with other countries. 

Along with these proposals, which WSDA will be shepherding though the legislative process, other bills may be introduced that affect our work. These will also be closely tracked and monitored. A few of the issues that may come up include:

• Agricultural tax exemptions
• Animal disease traceability
• Avian influenza
• Green waste transport
• Industrial hemp
• Marijuana
• Pesticides
• Water and climate

Those involved with legislation during this session are using new legislative tracking software and standing by to respond quickly to meet deadlines triggered by an often fast-moving process. 

Agricultural interests host some of the most
popular events at the Capitol during legislative
session; this year’s annual Potato Day
happens on Jan. 30 (photo from 2017).

Follow policy and law

Any private citizen has the right to provide input on pending legislation, or even to provide testimony to the Legislature. 

However, as a WSDA employee, be sure to comply with agency policy regarding political activities and attending legislative meetings, as well as state ethics laws. Any personal involvement must be on your own, non-work time and without using state resources, such as computers or cell phones. In addition, you must make it clear that you are NOT representing or speaking on behalf of WSDA. 

Stay tuned – we’ll keep you updated on legislative developments affecting WSDA in your weekly Connect e-bulletin and here on the Insider. 

In summary: With potentially thousands of bills introduced, WSDA is marshaling coordination among a cadre of agency staff to monitor the 60-day legislative session which started Jan. 8.