To provide for permanent funding of the Washington hardwoods commission, agricultural commodity assessments shall be levied by the commission on processors of hardwoods.

     An assessment is hereby levied on hardwood processors operating within the state of Washington. The assessment categories shall be based on the hardwood processor's production per calendar quarter. The assessment shall be levied based upon the following schedule:

CATEGORY	QUARTERLY PRODUCTION (THOUSAND TONS)	QUARTERLY ASSESSMENT
1	5 to 7.5	$ 150
2	7.5 to 15	$ 300
3	15 to 25	$ 600
4	25 to 35	$ 900
5	35 to 45	$ 1,200
6	45 to 62.5	$ 1,500
7	62.5 to 82.5	$ 2,250
8	82.5 to 125	$ 3,000
9	125 to 175	$ 4,500
10	175 to 250	$ 6,000
11	250 to 350	$ 9,000
12	350 to 450	$12,000
13	450 to 625	$15,000
14	625 to 875	$22,500
15	875 to 1125	$30,000
16	Over 1125	$35,000

     The commission may develop by rule formulas for converting other units of measure to thousands of tons of production for determining the appropriate production category. The assessment shall be calculated based upon calendar quarters with the first assessment period beginning July 1, 1991.

[1991 c 67 § 3; 1990 c 142 § 7.]