Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Natural Resources Committee

SSB 6301

Brief Description:  Allowing the issuance of a group fishing permit to a facility.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Oke, Jacobsen, Spanel, Snyder, Hargrove and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Authorizes the director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue a group fishing license to a medical care facility.

Hearing Date:  2/20/02

Staff:  Jason Callahan (786‑7117).

Background:

A license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) is required to hunt for most wild animals and fish and to harvest seaweed and shellfish.  Licenses are also necessary in order to practice taxidermy for a profit, deal in raw furs, act as a fishing guide, operate a game farm, purchase or sell game fish, or use department‑managed facilities.

Physically or mentally disabled persons, mentally ill persons, hospital patients, and senior citizens who are in the care of a state‑operated facility are allowed to fish and harvest shellfish during an open season without obtaining an individual license or paying the individual license fee if the facility they are associated with has a group permit.  To qualify for the group permit, the fishing must be occasional and be supervised by staff of the care facility.

Summary of Bill:

The director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife is required to issue a group fishing permit to any licensed, state‑operated, or non‑profit facility that serves physically or mentally disabled persons, mentally ill persons, hospital patients, seriously or terminally ill persons, or senior citizens.  Individuals covered by the facility's permit may fish and harvest shellfish without individual licenses or the payment of individual license fees.  There are no requirements that the fishing be supervised; however, it may only be occasional.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission is directed to adopt rules that provide for the conditions under which a group fishing permit may be issued.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.