H-0883.1                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1611

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Morton, Mielke, Schoesler, Talcott, Van Luven, Brough, Foreman, Fuhrman and Chandler

Read first time 02/03/93.  Referred to Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife.

Limiting the importation and release of grizzly bears.

          AN ACT Relating to grizzly bears; and adding a new section to chapter 77.16 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.16 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) A person may not import a grizzly bear into this state except for:

          (a) Research purposes by a state agency or university;

          (b) A zoo; or

          (c) Part of an exhibition such as a circus.

          (2) A person shall clearly and permanently tag a bear imported under subsection (1) of this section for identification purposes.

          (3) A person may not intentionally or negligently release a grizzly bear into the community or the wild.

          (4) The department shall adopt rules for the implementation of this section.

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