Z-0194.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1755
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Representatives Buck, Regala, Clements, Doumit and Haigh; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife
Read first time 02/04/1999. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to fish and wildlife equipment; and adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:
A revolving fund to be known as the fish and wildlife equipment fund is created in the custody of the state treasurer, to be expended by the department without appropriation for salaries, wages, and operations required for the purchase, repair, replacement, and operation of equipment to be used for the administration, maintenance, and construction of fish and wildlife lands and facilities, administration and maintenance of lands under department control, administration, maintenance, and construction of projects that will enhance fish and wildlife, including but not limited to volunteer cooperative projects, fisheries regional enhancement group projects, and salmon recovery projects, and administration, biological assessment, and enforcement necessary to carry out the duties under this title and rules of the commission.
All existing and hereafter-acquired equipment of the department used shall be deemed to have been purchased from the fish and wildlife equipment fund. The department may, from time to time, transfer equipment purchased with appropriations from the general fund to the fish and wildlife equipment fund with or without charging the fish and wildlife equipment fund.
Equipment may be rented to any federal, state, county, or city political subdivision or governmental agency, volunteer cooperatives, fisheries regional enhancement groups, and entities engaged in salmon recovery. The department may furnish operators for equipment. The fish and wildlife equipment fund shall be credited with a reasonable rental for equipment and a reasonable charge for operating equipment assessed upon use of the equipment. The terms and charges for such rentals and operating charges shall be solely within the discretion of the department, and the determination of the terms and charges shall be considered reasonable. Any entity renting equipment or using department operators shall make payment for such rental and operating charges directly to the fish and wildlife equipment fund and the office of the department in Olympia.
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