SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5437

As Passed Senate, March 13, 2001

Title:  An act relating to photo identification required for hunting and fishing licenses.

Brief Description:  Requiring holders of fish and wildlife licenses purchased over the internet or telephone to provide enforcement officers with photo identification.

Sponsors:  Senators Oke and Jacobsen; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines:  1/29/01, 1/31/01 [DP].

Passed Senate:  3/13/01, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Constantine, McDonald, Morton, Oke, Snyder and Stevens.

Staff:  David Johnson (786‑7754)

Background:  When an individual purchases a hunting or fishing license, the sales person may request proof of personal information such as residency and identity.  Because this information is verified at the point of purchase, Fish and Wildlife officers do not have specific authority to require hunters and fishers to provide photographic proof of identity.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to begin offering telephone and internet sales of licenses in March of this year.  However, these sales will occur without an opportunity for the department to verify personal information of the purchaser.  Without the specific authority for officers to verify personal information, it could be difficult to detect and prevent license fraud in telephone and internet license sales.

Summary of Bill:  Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers, and other authorized employees have specific authority to require a hunter, fisher, or shellfish or seaweed gatherer possessing an internet or telephone license to exhibit photographic identification.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  New methods of selling licenses also provide the potential for increased fraud.  This is a limited and necessary step to prevent that.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bruce Crawford, Josh Weiss, WDFW (pro).