SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5082

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 13, 1991

Brief Description:  Requiring licenses for professional salmon fishing guides.

SPONSORS:Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Bauer, L. Smith and Oke).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5082 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

     Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Conner, Owen, Snyder, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786‑7413)

Hearing Dates:January 29, 1991; January 31, 1991

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

BACKGROUND:

Persons who operate as salmon fishing guides in freshwater rivers and streams are not required to be licensed as guides.

Some people would like to license salmon fishing guides.

SUMMARY:

A professional salmon guide license is created.  Guiding for salmon in freshwater streams or rivers requires the guide license at a cost of $50 for residents and $500 for nonresidents.

A surcharge of $20 is levied on resident guides and $100 on nonresident guides for the purposes of funding regional fisheries enhancement groups.  Surcharges are in addition to the proposed guide license fees.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  yes

Fiscal Note:  requested January 23, 1991

TESTIMONY FOR:

Bill would provide increased funding and prevent some illegal activities.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Senator L. Smith; Mel Gruelle, Sr., river fishing guide; Pat Files, river fishing outfitter; Susan Markey, Dept. of Fisheries; Jim King, WA State Sports Council

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

Legislative committees are required to evaluate the guide fees enacted in this 1991 legislation and report to the Legislature by December 31, 1991.  A wildlife code reference that recognizes the validity of Idaho or Oregon wildlife licenses in Snake River boundary waters is repealed.