S-1517

AN ACT Relating to game fish enhancement groups; 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 legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the game fish resource of the state to encourage the development of regional game fish enhancement groups in each general region of the state, and to provide the groups with a source of funding for game fish enhancement projects.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The legislature authorizes the formation of regional game fish enhancement groups. These groups shall be eligible for state financial support. The regional groups shall be operated on a nonprofit basis. The regional boundaries for the game fish enhancement groups shall be determined by the director in consultation with the wildlife commission and the regional game fish enhancement group advisory board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The dedicated regional game fish enhancement group account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures. The department shall collect a surcharge of one dollar on each recreational fishing license and steelhead punchcard, and a surcharge of fifty dollars on each fishing guide license, sold in this state. The department shall deposit all receipts from these surcharges in the regional game fish enhancement group account.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The regional game fish enhancement group account must be used exclusively for regional game fish enhancement group projects. The department shall not use funds from the regional game fish enhancement group account as replacement funding for currently funded department-operated game fish projects. The department may use the account's funds for administrative costs and to provide agency assistance to the regional game fish enhancement groups.

The amount of account funds used by the department shall be determined by the director after the regional game fish enhancement group advisory board has reviewed and made recommendations for expenditures. The department shall not spend more than twenty percent of annual contributions to the account in administrative costs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A regional game fish enhancement group advisory board is established to review project proposals from the regional game fish enhancement groups and to make recommendations to the director regarding funding of the proposals. The advisory board shall consist of seven members appointed by the director, with advice of the wildlife commission. Membership on the board shall include sport fishers representing a cross-section of game fishers in the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The director, in consultation with the wildlife commission and the regional game fish enhancement group advisory board, shall develop objective criteria for funding of proposals.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Each regional game fish enhancement group shall be incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under Title 24 RCW. Any interested person or group is permitted to join. To the extent permitted by the demographics of the region, the group shall be representative of all classes of fishers, persons who have an interest in game fishing within the region, and the general public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The regional game fish enhancement groups shall seek to:

(1) Enhance the game fish resources of the state;

(2) Maximize volunteer efforts and private donations to improve the game fish resource for all citizens; and

(3) Assist the department in achieving the goal of doubling game fish production by the year 2000 under RCW 77.12.710.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The department, the wildlife commission, and the regional game fish enhancement group advisory board shall report at the end of each biennium to the senate environment and natural resources committee, the house of representatives fisheries and wildlife committee, the senate ways and means committee and house of representatives fiscal committees, or any successor committees beginning October 1, 1992. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) An evaluation of enhancement efforts;

(2) A description of projects;

(3) A region by region accounting of all financial contributions and expenditures including the regional game fish enhancement group account funds; and

(4) Volunteer participation and member affiliation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 1 through 9 of this act are each added to chapter 77.12 RCW.