SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6726

BYSenators Owen, Metcalf and Patrick

Providing funds for firearm range facilities.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 22, 1990; January 31, 1990

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6726 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Amondson, Vice Chairman; Barr, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Kreidler, Owen, Patterson, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Vic Moon (786-7469)

February 9, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, JANUARY 31, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Firearm Range Committee was created by the 1988 Legislature. The committee is appointed by the Governor and is composed of nine members representing various aspects of sport shooting and law enforcement groups in Washington. Four nonvoting ex officio members from the Legislature are on the committee. The committee prepared a report which was submitted to the Legislature on January 1, 1990. The committee reviewed existing public and private firearm range facilities, assessed the needs for firearm ranges, and reviewed various methods to fund the development of firearm ranges. Funds accruing to the firearm range account come from a surcharge on concealed weapon permits.

SUMMARY:

The interest in all shooting sports has increased while safe locations to shoot have been lost due to the pressures of urban growth.

The firearm range account is modified so that it can be used for the purchase and development of land, construction or improvement of range facilities, remodeling of facilities, equipment purchasing, safety and environmental improvements, noise abatement and liability protection for firearm ranges and sporting firearm training and practice facilities. Funds from this account may not be used for shooting supplies or normal operating expenses. The grant funds will not supplement funds for other organization programs. The funds from the account will be available to nonprofit shooting organizations, school districts, state, county and local governments on a match basis. All the ranges receiving matching funds must be open to the public on a regular basis and usable by law enforcement personnel or the general public.

Applicants for grants from the firearm range account will provide matching funds or in-kind contributions. The grants must be represented dollar for dollar as an equal grant, and may be in the form of in-kind contributions, materials or property.

Applicants other than school districts or local government must be registered as nonprofit organizations with the Secretary of State. Organizations requesting grants must provide hours of range availability for the public and for law enforcement use. Any nonprofit organization accepting grants will be required to pay back the entire grant amount if the use is discontinued less than ten years after the grant is accepted. Any facility that allows safe shooting of firearms and/or archery equipment is eligible for a grant. The facilities must be open for hunter safety education classes on a regular basis, free of charge. Government units or school districts applying for grants must open their range facility on a regular basis for hunter safety training education.

Hunting and fishing licenses are increased by $1 and a hunting license is increased by $1. The $1 from each combination hunting-fishing license and regular hunting license is designated to the Hunter Education Program within the Department of Wildlife.

The Firearm Range Committee is made permanent and the grant administration will be handled through the 12 member Firearm Range Committee. The members will be appointed by the Governor and will represent local or county law enforcement, statewide law enforcement, Superintendent of Public Instruction's office, black powder shooting sports, rifle shooting sports, pistol shooting sports, shotgun shooting sports, archery shooting sports, hunter education, hunters, the general public, and the Department of Wildlife. The committee members will serve three-year terms with four new members being selected each year beginning with the third year of the committee's existence. The committee members will not receive compensation from the firearm range account. Travel and per diem will be paid consistent with the regulations for state employees.

The Department of Wildlife will provide all administrative operational and logistical support to the committee. Agency expenses directly incurred for supporting the program may be charged against the firearm range account. But these administrative expenses may not exceed 10 percent of the yearly income for the firearm range account.

The committee is directed to develop an application process for the grants and develop audit and accountability systems. They are to screen, prioritize and approve grant applications and to monitor the compliance of grant recipients. The committee will prioritize grants to insure that the maximum number of participants in all shooting sports can be accommodated. The Department of Wildlife will promote the use of public-owned land for shooting range facilities. The Department of Natural Resources, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Washington Military Department are encouraged to provide land, facilitate land trades and support the development of shooting range facilities.

The Department of Wildlife will utilize the Pittman-Robertson Act funds for the firearm range program. The funds shall equal the total dollars provided to the hunter education program from the $1 surcharge on hunting licenses provided in this act.

$400,000 is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the firearm range account for the purpose of grants for firearm safety facilities.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The interest in all shooting sports has increased while safe locations to shoot have been lost due to the pressures of urban growth.

Applicants other than school districts or local government must be registered as nonprofit organizations with the Secretary of State. Organizations requesting grants must provide hours of range availability for the public and for law enforcement use. Any nonprofit organization accepting grants will be required to pay back the entire grant amount if the use is discontinued less than ten years after the grant is accepted. Any nonprofit facility that allows safe shooting of firearms and/or archery equipment is eligible for a grant. The facilities in all cases must be open for hunter safety education classes on a regular basis, free of charge. Government units or school districts applying for grants must open their range facility on a regular basis for hunter safety training education.

The Firearm Range Committee is reconstituted and the appointments by the Governor will represent shooting interests, archery interests and the Department of Wildlife and the Military Department. The administrating agency is changed to the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation who will administer the grants for the committee. The firearm range account in the wildlife fund is transferred to a dedicated account in the general fund and $175,000 is appropriated from that account to the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation for grants as approved by the Firearm Range Committee. The Interagency Committee may use up to 10 percent of the funds for administrative expenses.

The appropriation is changed from $400,000 to $175,000.

Appropriation: $175,000 from firearm range account

Revenue: none

Fiscal Note: available

Senate Committee - Testified: Department of Wildlife (con - original bill); J.K. Johnson, Firearm Range Committee (pro); Don Manning, Firearm Range Committee (pro); Jim King, Sportsman's Council (pro); Jan Manning, Washington Rifle Association (pro); Gary Kasowski, Firearm Range Committee (pro); Al Woodbridge, Washington Arms Collectors (pro); Lew Holcom (pro); Greg Hoygaard, WNFA (pro); Ralph Makey, Snohomish County (pro); Mike Krei, National Rifle Association (pro); John Lindstrom, Washington Military Department (pro)