6231-S AMH FW WATS 01

SSB 6231 - H COMM AMDS

By Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife

     On page 1, strike all of section 1 and insert:

     "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

     Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 77.16.020, a person may kill a bear or cougar that is reasonably perceived to be a threat to human life."

     On page 1, beginning on line 12, after "is" strike all material through "property" on line 13 and insert "((damaging crops, domestic animals, fowl, or other property)) reasonably perceived to be a threat to human life, domestic animals, or fowl, or is damaging crops or other property"

     On page 2, beginning on line 1, after "a" strike all material through "property" on line 2 and insert: "((real and immediate threat to crops, domestic animals, fowl, or other property))  threat to human life, domestic animals, or fowl, or a real and immediate threat to crops or other property"

     On page 2, beginning on line 7, after "is" strike all material through "property" on line 8 and insert "((damaging crops, domestic animals, fowl, or other property)) reasonably perceived to be a threat to human life, domestic animals, or fowl, or is damaging crops or other property"

EFFECT:  Places the new section in chapter 77.12 RCW instead of chapter 16.52 RCW.  Changes the standard for legal killing of a bear or cougar from reasonable perception that the animal is an unavoidable and immediate threat to human life, to reasonable perception that the animal is a threat to human life.  Makes the standard for killing an animal on one's own property due to a threat to human life consistent.  Changes the standard for killing certain animals due to damage to a domestic animal or fowl from actually damaging such domestic animals or fowl to a reasonable perception that such animals are a threat to domestic animals or fowl.