S-1350.5 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5130
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Metcalf and Owen).
Read first time March 6, 1991.
AN ACT Relating to the department of wildlife; and adding new sections to chapter 77.12 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The director shall examine the expenditures of the department and shall segregate them into two categories:
(1) Activities that involve hunting, fishing, trapping, and other recreational pursuits that consumptively harvest wildlife; and
(2) Other department activities such as nonconsumptive programs, endangered species protection, environmental permits, research, habitat management, and other related programs.
The legislative budget committee shall examine the operations of the department of wildlife and shall determine the appropriate division of department expenditures between subsections (1) and (2) of this section. On the effective date of this section, the director shall operate the department in such a manner as to be in compliance with legislative budget committee findings in order to ensure that the hunting, fishing, and trapping license and tag fees and revenue derived from the federal tax on hunting and fishing equipment will be used only for consumptive programs under subsection (1) of this section.
Nonconsumptive programs under subsection (2) of this section shall be funded from general fund appropriation and revenue from personalized license plates. The director shall allocate funds for nonconsumptive programs in such a manner to be in compliance with legislative budget committee findings.
Revenue from other sources shall be divided between the two categories by the director in compliance with legislative budget committee findings in such a manner as to reflect the direct cost attributable to consumptive and nonconsumptive activities for which the funding is provided. Department activities that benefit both consumptive and nonconsumptive activities shall be prorated by the director for purposes of funding.
The director shall consult with the appropriate house of representatives and senate committees for the purpose of providing information on the division of expenditures between consumptive and nonconsumptive programs.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The director and commission shall conduct an ongoing analysis of the expenditures for consumptive programs and for nonconsumptive programs.
The director and commission shall make recommendations to the legislature on the need for changing the rates of hunting and fishing fees in order to provide funding for consumptive programs. The wildlife commission shall conduct at least three public hearings annually for the purpose of informing the public about department funding needs and to solicit public testimony on the desires of the outdoor sports-oriented people in the state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act are each added to chapter 77.12 RCW.