AN ACT Relating to food fish and shellfish; amending RCW 75.25.090, 75.25.125, 75.25.130, 75.25.140, and 75.25.170; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 87, Laws of 1987 and RCW 75.25.090 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) An annual personal use license is required for a person sixteen years of age or older to fish for, take, or possess food fish for personal use from state waters or offshore waters, other than carp and sturgeon in the Columbia river above Chief Joseph Dam. An annual personal use license is valid for the calendar year in which it is issued. The fees for an annual personal use license are three dollars for residents and nine dollars for nonresidents. An annual personal use license is not required of a person who has a valid two-consecutive-day personal use license and punchcard.

(2) A two-consecutive-day combined personal use license and punchcard shall be issued. The fee for the license and punchcard is three dollars for residents and nonresidents.

(3) It is unlawful to fish for or possess food fish without the licenses((,)) and punchcards((~~, and stamps~~)) required by this chapter.

Sec. 2. Section 5, chapter 87, Laws of 1987 and RCW 75.25.125 are each amended to read as follows:

The director may require a single punchcard for sturgeon, lingcod, and halibut when the director determines such is necessary and appropriate to aid in the acquisition of catch, effort, or other resource management information. A sturgeon, lingcod, and halibut punchcard is not required of a person who has a valid two-consecutive-day combined personal use license and punchcard. The fee for a license((~~, stamp,~~)) or punchcard under this section shall not exceed three dollars.

Sec. 3. Section 12, chapter 327, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as last amended by section 6, chapter 87, Laws of 1987 and RCW 75.25.130 are each amended to read as follows:

All licenses((,)) and punchcards((~~, and stamps~~)) required by this chapter shall be issued only under authority of the director. The director may authorize license dealers to issue the licenses((,)) and punchcards((~~, and stamps~~)) and collect the license fees. In addition to the license((,)) or punchcard((~~, or stamp~~)) fee, dealers may charge a dealer's fee of fifty cents for each Hood Canal shrimp license, two-consecutive-day combined license and punchcard, personal use license, punchcard, and razor clam license. The dealer's fee may be retained by the license dealer.

The director shall adopt rules for the issuance of personal use licenses, Hood Canal shrimp licenses, razor clam licenses, ((~~stamps,~~)) and punchcards and for the collection, payment, and handling of license fees and dealers' fees.

Sec. 4. Section 15, chapter 327, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as last amended by section 7, chapter 87, Laws of 1987 and RCW 75.25.140 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Personal use licenses, Hood Canal shrimp licenses, razor clam licenses, ((~~stamps,~~)) and punchcards are not transferable. Upon request of a fisheries patrol officer or ex officio fisheries patrol officer, a person digging for or possessing razor clams or fishing for or possessing food fish for personal use shall exhibit the required license and punchcard and write his or her signature for comparison with the signature on the license. Failure to comply with the request is prima facie evidence that the person does not have a license or punchcard or is not the person named on the license or punchcard.

(2) The razor clam license shall be visible on the licensee while digging for razor clams.

Sec. 5. Section 9, chapter 87, Laws of 1987 and RCW 75.25.170 are each amended to read as follows:

((Fees received for personal use licenses, punchcards, and stamps under this chapter shall be deposited in the general fund and shall be appropriated for management, enhancement, research, and enforcement purposes of the shellfish, salmon, and marine fish programs of the department of fisheries.)) Fees received for personal use licenses and sturgeon, lingcod, and halibut punchcards shall be deposited in the recreational fishing enhancement account, hereby created in the state treasury. The funds in the recreational fishing enhancement account shall be appropriated to the department for projects such as, but not limited to, boat launching ramps, fishing piers, artificial reefs, pen-rearing projects, angler information hotline, or rewards for poaching information. No more than five percent of the funds in the recreational fishing enhancement account may be used for agency administration of the projects funded by the account.

Fees received for salmon punchcards shall be deposited in the general fund for purposes of retiring the bonds issued under RCW 75.48.020.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.