H-0004.2

HOUSE BILL 1062

ByRepresentatives Blake and Walsh

AN ACT Relating to expanding access to commercial fishing opportunities; and amending RCW 77.65.070 and 77.65.020.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 77.65.070 and 2001 c 244 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A commercial license issued under this chapter permits the license holder to engage in the activity for which the license is issued in accordance with this title and the rules of the department.

(2) ((No security interest or lien of any kind, including tax liens, may be created or enforced in a license issued under this chapter.

(3))) Unless otherwise provided in this title or rules of the department, commercial licenses and permits issued under this chapter expire at midnight on December 31st of the calendar year for which they are issued. In accordance with this title, licenses may be renewed annually upon application and payment of the prescribed license fees. In accordance with RCW 77.65.030, the department must provide a license or permit holder's surviving spouse, estate, or estate beneficiary a reasonable opportunity to renew the license or permit.

Sec. 2. RCW 77.65.020 and 2017 3rd sp.s. c 8 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Unless otherwise provided in this title, a license issued under this chapter is not transferable from the license holder to any other person. This may not be deemed to prohibit the granting or enforcement of a security interest in any such license.

(2) The following restrictions apply to transfers of commercial fishery licenses, salmon delivery licenses, and salmon charter licenses that are transferable between license holders:

(a) The license holder shall surrender the previously issued license to the department.

(b) The department shall complete no more than one transfer of the license in any seven-day period.

(c) The fee to transfer a license from one license holder to another is:

(i) The same as the license renewal fee if the license is not limited under chapter 77.70 RCW;

(ii) Three and one-half times the renewal fee if the license is not a commercial salmon license and the license is limited under chapter 77.70 RCW;

(iii) Fifty dollars if the license is a commercial salmon license and is limited under chapter 77.70 RCW; or

(iv) Five hundred dollars if the license is a Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license.

(d) In addition to the fees under (c) of this subsection, an application fee of one hundred five dollars applies to all commercial license transfers.

(3) A commercial license that is transferable under this title survives the death of the holder. Though such licenses are not personal property, they shall be treated as analogous to personal property for purposes of inheritance ((and)), intestacy, and enforcement of security interests pursuant to Title 62A RCW. Such licenses are subject to state laws governing wills, trusts, estates, intestate succession, and community property, except that such licenses are exempt from ((claims of creditors of the estate and)) tax liens. The surviving spouse, estate, or beneficiary of the estate may apply for a renewal of the license. There is no fee for transfer of a license from a license holder to the license holder's surviving spouse or estate, or to a beneficiary of the estate.

--- END ---