HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESSB 6726
BYSenate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Owen, Metcalf and Patrick)
Providing funds for firearm range facilities.
House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. (11)
Signed by Representatives R. King, Chair; Morris, Vice Chair; S. Wilson, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bowman, Brooks, Cole, Haugen, Smith, Spanel and Vekich.
House Staff:Pamela Madson (786-7310)
Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations
Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife. (25)
Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member, Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.
House Staff: Pamela Madson (786-7310)
AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 1, 1990
BACKGROUND:
The Firearm Range Committee was created in 1988 to assess the needs of law enforcement, sporting groups, and the general public for firearm ranges and shooting facilities. This nine-member committee was to investigate public and private funding sources for land acquisition, construction, development, and operation of firearm range facilities; analyze public and private liability issues; and develop use ratios for public and private cost sharing. One of the projects contemplated by the original legislation was the development of an accessible state facility of Olympic quality.
A firearm range account was created and receives proceeds from a $3 surcharge a license to carry a concealed weapon. The account funds are to be used for land purchases, construction, development, and operation of firearm ranges, sport training and practice facilities.
The committee reported its findings and recommendations in January 1990, which included the following: (1) Improve regional and local facilities prior to developing an Olympic style shooting complex; (2) Provide $400,000 annually in matching funds from sources such as a continued surcharge on concealed weapon licenses, funds from the federal Pittman-Robertson Program, proceeds from the sale of confiscated firearms, and a percentage of penalty assessments for firearms violations; (3) Establish a committee supported by state agencies to acquire, construct, and maintain ranges; and (4) Limit grant awards to shooting ranges that allow use by the general public and law enforcement.
One of the funding sources suggested by the committee is the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson) which produces funds collected from manufacturers' excise taxes on sporting arms and ammunition, archery equipment, and hand guns. One program funded through this act is the hunter education program. The apportionment of funds to each state is based on a formula that considers the number of state hunting licenses sold and the state's land area.
SUMMARY:
The firearm range account becomes the firearms range account and is removed from the wildlife fund and placed in the general fund. The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) administers the awarding of grants from this fund.
Uses of funds from the firearms range account are expanded to include construction or improvement of range facilities, equipment purchases, and other improvements of existing facilities including liability protection.
Grants from this account are made on an equal match basis to nonprofit shooting organizations, school districts, and state, county, or local governments.
Ranges receiving grant money must be open to the public and law enforcement personnel, and must be available for use by hunter safety training programs.
If a facility operated by a nonprofit organization or an agency ceases to operate within 10 years of receiving grant funds, the entire grant amount must be repaid to the firearms range account.
A 10-member committee broadly representative of law enforcement and of the shooting sports, will advise the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC). The IAC provides staff and technical support for the committee, and is reimbursed an amount not to exceed 10 percent of the annual income of the firearms range account.
The IAC and the Firearms Range Advisory Committee must provide an evaluation of the program with recommendations to the governor and the Legislature by December 1, 1991.
Four hundred and fifty thousand dollars is appropriated from the firearms range account in the general fund for grants to facilities.
Appropriation: $450,000 is appropriated from the firearms range account of the general fund to the IAC.
Fiscal Note: Available.
House Committee ‑ Testified For: (Fisheries & Wildlife) Representative Shirley Doty; Senator Brad Owen, Prime Sponsor on Senate Bill; Lew Holcomb, citizen; Gary Kasowski, WA Hunter Educational Instruction Association; John O'Laughlin, Washington State Patrol; J.K. Johnson, WA State Muzzle Loaders' Association; Ted Cowan, King County Outdoor Sports Council; Lee Smith, Department of Wildlife; and Ralph Mackey, Snohomish County.
(Appropriations) J.K. Johnson, WA State Muzzle Loaders' Association.
House Committee - Testified Against: (Fisheries & Wildlife) No one.
(Appropriations) No one.
House Committee - Testimony For: (Fisheries & Wildlife) The availability of safe, accessible shooting ranges is decreasing, partly due to urban growth and development. There is a need to help improve existing facilities. Funds for this effort come from shooters through the license surcharge. Washington is the only western state that does not have a range program. This is essentially a grant program and it is appropriate for the Interagency Committee on Outdoor Recreation to administer the program. This program emphasizes hunter safety and public access to funded facilities.
(Appropriations) The number of safe shooting ranges is decreasing. The funds for this program come from license surcharges paid by shooters and not from the general fund.
House Committee - Testimony Against: (Fisheries & Wildlife) None.
(Appropriations) None.