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                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 243

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Hargrove, Lundquist and Haugen

Read first time 1/25/85 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to food fish and shellfish; and adding a new section to chapter 75.30 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 75.30 RCW to read as follows:

          The director may find that a conservation crisis exists for species or stocks of food fish or shellfish traditionally comprising a major portion of the harvest taken pursuant to licenses or permits affected by this chapter such that fulfillment of the requirements of this chapter would cause greater harm than benefit to management of the resource.  Upon such a finding, the director may develop criteria for and implement a voluntary program to suspend for no longer than one calendar year any license, license renewal, permit, landing, or other requirement imposed by this chapter.  A person shall not later be denied a license or permit by the department which that person is otherwise eligible to receive but for the person's lawful participation in a program authorized by this section.  In no event shall a program developed under this section conflict with the long-term goals of this chapter.