HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 719

BYRepresentatives Belcher, Beck, Meyers and P. King; by request of  Department of Game

Giving game commission authority to sell promotional products and charge for some services.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (19)

     Signed by Representatives Sutherland, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Amondson, Basich, Beck, Belcher, Bumgarner, Cole, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Haugen, R. King, Meyers, Sayan, Schmidt, C. Smith, Spanel, B. Williams and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES MARCH 3, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Game Department operates on a budget of $57 million for the 85-87 biennium.  Nearly three-fourths of the budget comes from the sale of licenses, tags, stamps, and punchcards which permit the holder to take wildlife.  Most of the balance of the budget comes from federal funds.  The department receives no General Fund support.  Game does not now have the authority to charge for services it offers or to earn a profit on products it sells.

The department currently offers a number of free training courses.  It cannot accept fees for these events, though the Director may charge a fee to recover the costs of publishing materials.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The director of the Department of Game may authorize the sale of items to promote wildlife, and may charge reasonable fees for services.  These services include seminars and training sessions.

SUBSTITUTE COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The director of the Department of Game, not the Game Commission, has the authority to sell promotional items and charge for services.  Clarifying language specifies the director may authorize these sales, not sell the items or services.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 26, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Rich Poelker, Department of Game.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Other states sell promotional items and charge for seminars.  This bill would allow Game to charge for services it would like to offer but cannot afford to offer now.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.