Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Increases fees for certain recreational hunting and fishing licenses, tags, and endorsements, and extends the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement through 2023.
Changes distribution amounts from certain endorsements to certain enhancement accounts and activities.
Changes the age to qualify as a "youth" for fishing licenses from age 15 to under age 16, removes the requirement for youth to obtain a license in order to fish, and deletes the Family Fishing Weekend license.
Allows the use of temporary freshwater fishing licenses for the opening day of the lowland lakes fishing season.
Authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Commission to adopt an inflationary surcharge on hunting and fishing licenses under certain circumstances.
Creates a one-time discount on the purchase of the first hunting license for new hunters upon completion of hunter education training.
Allows a one-year deferral of the hunter education program for an individual if they are accompanied by a Washington-licensed hunter over age 18 while hunting.

Background:

Hunting and Fishing Licenses.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) is responsible for managing the state's fish and wildlife resources and establishing basic rules and regulations governing the time, place, manner, and methods used to harvest or enjoy fish and wildlife. As a part of this responsibility, the Department issues licenses, tags, endorsements, and permits for hunting and fishing in Washington. Generally, there are resident, nonresident, and youth fees. Youth fees for fishing licenses apply to youth age 15, and those under age 15 are not required to purchase a license. Youth fees for hunting licenses apply to individuals age 16 and under.

A person may purchase an annual or temporary freshwater, saltwater, or combination freshwater and saltwater fishing license (combination fishing license). Temporary combination fishing licenses are valid for a period of one to three consecutive days.

An annual freshwater or combination fishing license is required to fish during the first eight days of the lowland lakes fishing season. Only active duty military personnel may fish during the first eight days of the lowland lakes fishing season with a temporary license.

In addition to a base freshwater or combination fishing license, a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (Endorsement) is required in order to fish for salmon and steelhead on the Columbia River and its tributaries. Endorsement program-funded project proposals developed by the Department are vetted through the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Recreational Anglers Board (Board) and community review from the community in which the proposed project would occur. The Board is comprised of six to 10 volunteer members, appointed by the Director of the Department (Director), who represent the four Fish and Wildlife regions which make up the Columbia Basin. The Endorsement program expires July 1, 2019.

A hunter or fisher that is required but fails to report their harvest is subject to an administrative penalty of no more than $10. The penalty must be paid before a new hunting license, catch record card, or Puget Sound Dungeness Crab Endorsement may be issued.

Hunter Education.

Before purchasing a hunting license for the first time, individuals born after January 1, 1972, must show proof that they have completed a hunter education course. The course must include at least 10 hours of instruction covering firearms and outdoor safety, hunter responsibility, and wildlife management. To receive proof of completion, a person must pass an exam, either in a classroom setting or online, and demonstrate safe firearms handling skills in the field. Members of the United States military and certain law enforcement officers who complete the online hunter education course are exempt from the field firearms skills portion.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Hunting and Fishing Licenses.

Most hunting and fishing license fees are increased by 15 percent, with a $7 increase cap for fishing licenses and $15 increase cap for hunting licenses. The fee for halibut catch record cards is maintained at $5. The administrative penalty for failing to report a hunt or catch, if required, is set at $10. The Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement program is extended through 2023. A migratory bird authorization is required for certain additional species of bird.

A Fish Washington license package is created and includes a combination freshwater and saltwater fishing license (combination fishing license) and certain endorsements, and is available for state residents. A Hunt Washington license package, also available to state residents, is created and includes a combination license with deer, elk, bear, cougar, a small game license, migratory bird permit and authorization, and two turkey tags. A Sportsperson's license combines the Fish Washington and Hunt Washington license packages.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) may create and sell combined license packages for hunting or fishing activities at or below the total cost of individual licenses included in the package. The Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) may offer discounted promotional pricing to increase angler, hunting, or wildlife viewing participation.

The age at which a person qualifies as a "youth" for the purposes of purchasing fishing licenses is changed from age 15 to under age 16, and youth are not required to purchase fishing licenses or endorsements. The Family Fishing Weekend license is deleted. Temporary combination fishing licenses are valid for the opening day of lowland lakes fishing season. The Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) may authorize multi-year license packages as combined license packages and the Department may offer temporary promotional license discounts. The Commission may authorize a special hunting permit for goat, sheep, moose, or other big game species.

By November 1 of each odd-numbered year, the Commission may adopt a surcharge on recreational and commercial fishing licenses if determined necessary by the Commission to fund inflationary or other costs approved by the Legislature in the biennial budget.

Portions of revenue for hunting and fishing licenses must be deposited into enhancement accounts as follows:

Warm Water Game Fish Account: 5 percent of all freshwater and combination fishing licenses, including temporary combination licenses;
Recreational Fisheries Account: 11 percent of all saltwater and combination fishing licenses, including temporary combination fishing licenses;
Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Account: 2 percent of all saltwater, freshwater, and combination fishing licenses, including temporary combination fishing licenses;
Rockfish Research Account: 1 percent of all saltwater and combination fishing licenses, including temporary combination fishing licenses; and
Eastern Washington Pheasant Account: 4 percent of all small game hunting licenses.

The amount of revenue from each Puget Sound Dungeness Crab Endorsement applied to the removal of derelict fishing gear is changed from $1 to 12 percent of the license revenue.

Hunter Education.

The Commission may offer a one-time $20 discount on the purchase of the first hunting license for new hunters upon completion of the Washington's hunter education program. An individual may receive a one-year deferral from the hunter education program if they are accompanied by a Washington-licensed hunter over age 18 while hunting.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session and heard from the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) and several stakeholders about the recent performance audit; this bill is a result of that process. The stakeholders have come out in enthusiastic support. The last recreational fee increases occurred in 2011 at a time when the Department was facing a structural deficit. Currently, expenditures are up and revenues are down. Fee increases were proposed but not implemented in 2017. Instead, the Legislature provided bridge funds from the General Fund and directed the Department to conduct a performance review and zero-based budget process. During the review, the Department heard that conservation work should be funded by a broader fund source and hunting and fishing revenue should be used to augment hunting and fishing opportunities. The 15 percent across-the-board increase ensures no user group is impacted more than another. Both the fee increase caps and new license packages will decrease costs for those who participate in multiple hunting or fishing opportunities. Other natural resource agencies have fee-setting authority, unlike the Department. The limited new fee authorization to address inflationary costs is appropriate to address gradual increasing costs as they occur, and prevents big license fee jumps. Extending the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (Endorsement) will support the specific fishery. This bill also addresses recruitment. It aligns youth under age 16 for hunting and fishing licenses, and allows fishing during the opening of the lowland lakes fishing season, one of the most popular fishing events of the year, with a temporary fishing license. Many things have recovered since 2009, but the Department's budget is not one of them. The Department has more management responsibilities than inland states do, and the Department is funded with cobbled together fund sources. There is a need for users of the resources to pay more. The Department is headed in the right direction with this bill. There is support for the hunter education discount, combined license packages, and other license discounts. It is important to increase funds for Regional Fish Enhancement Groups. Some of the fishing opportunity challenges are out of the Department's control. Many constituents are in support of the bill without changes. There have been challenges in the past, but it is a new day.

(Opposed) None.

(Other) The concerns with this bill are not about the money, but about the policy. Consumptive users should not be constantly asked to pay more for fewer opportunities. Providing predictable, meaningful harvest seasons through effective fishery management is important. There is concern about granting the Fish and Wildlife Commission uncontrolled authorization to increase license fees.

While there is support for increasing revenue for the Department, there is a lack of confidence in the policy decisions made by the Department. There should be increased hatchery production to support fisheries and more selective harvest methods used. Additionally, there is concern that the Endorsement funds have been used to backfill the general agency budget rather than enhancing the fisheries in the Columbia River.