Chapter 392 Oregon Laws 2005

AN ACT

HB 2577

Relating to noxious weeds; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 561.680.

Whereas the presence of noxious weeds is an escalating problem within the state; and

Whereas noxious weeds have a serious impact on the agricultural and natural resources of this state; and

Whereas the coordination of local efforts at noxious weed control will increase the effectiveness of those efforts; and

Whereas federal and other sources of moneys for noxious weed control are limited; and

Whereas available federal and other moneys for noxious weed control should be expended in a manner that provides the greatest overall benefit to the state; now, therefore,

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the State Weed Board, shall implement a board plan to improve the effectiveness of noxious weed control efforts by weed control districts, state agencies and others within this state. The department shall act as the primary state agency for assisting weed control districts, state agencies and others in coordinating their noxious weed control efforts.

(2) The department and the board shall initiate and actively pursue efforts to secure an optimum level of federal and private funding for noxious weed control efforts in this state. The department and the board shall give priority under this subsection to securing funding for noxious weed control projects that are consistent with the plan implemented under subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 2. ORS 561.680 is amended to read:

561.680. The State Weed Board shall:

(1) Act in conjunction with the State Department of Agriculture to identify those weeds growing in this state that represent the greatest public menace and establish those weeds as the top priority for action by weed control programs in this state.

(2) Assist the Director of Agriculture in allocating moneys made available to the State Department of Agriculture for the payment of weed control expenses to weed control programs conducted in the various counties on the basis of the [control effort required and the amount of money available for weed control from local sources] plan implemented under section 1 of this 2005 Act.

(3) Help the department to coordinate the weed control program efforts of the various counties and advise the director in performing weed control duties, functions and powers assigned to the State Department of Agriculture pursuant to ORS chapter 570 or any other provision of law.

SECTION 3. (1) The State Department of Agriculture shall report to an interim committee of the Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly regarding implementation of the noxious weed control plan under section 1 of this 2005 Act. The department shall report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245 no later than October 1, 2008. The report shall include any recommendations for proposed legislation to assist weed control districts in the enforcement of local noxious weed control programs. The report shall also include the results of efforts by the department to secure federal and private noxious weed control funding under section 1 of this 2005 Act. The report may be filed with any committee dealing with issues relating to agriculture or natural resources.

(2) The department shall consult with and seek the approval of the State Weed Board before filing the report described in this section. If the board does not approve of the report, the board shall file a dissenting report with the committee.

Approved by the Governor June 29, 2005

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 29, 2005

Effective date January 1, 2006

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