HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1940

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Fisheries & Wildlife

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to fishing guides.

Brief Description:  Establishing fishing guide licenses for Oregon residents.

Sponsors:  Representatives Orr, King, Springer and Morris.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Fisheries & Wildlife, February 25, 1993, DP;

Appropriations, March 4, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives King, Chair; Orr, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Sehlin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Chappell; Foreman; Lemmon; and Scott.

Staff:  Keitlyn Watson (786-7310).

Background:  The 1991 Legislature passed SSB 5082, which required that the Department of Fisheries issue a license to professional salmon guides operating in freshwater rivers and streams, other than that part of the Columbia River below the bridge at Longview.  A charter boat license is required to carry passengers for hire on the Columbia River below the bridge at Longview.  The salmon guide license fee is $554 for non-residents of Washington and $55 for residents.  In addition, license purchasers must pay a surcharge of $20 and $100 for residents and non-residents, respectively, for funding the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups.

The Washington Department of Fisheries issues commercial fishing licenses to vessels and recreational licenses to individuals.

The Oregon State Marine Board regulates commercial outfitting and guiding in the state of Oregon.  The fee for resident and non-resident fishing guide licenses is $50.

There are salmon fishing guides that operate both in Washington and Oregon.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Fisheries shall charge resident fishing guide license fees to Oregon residents if the state of Oregon charges resident fishing guide license fees to Washington residents.

The guide licenses shall be issued to persons and not to vessels.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Columbia River salmon fishing guides work on both sides of the Oregon/Washington border.  The bill would fix a current "guide glitch," in which some Columbia River area resident guides are subject to high out-of-state license fees in one state in addition to resident license fees in the other.  The bill would promote good relations of reciprocity between the two states.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Orr, prime sponsor (pro); and Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries (supportive with technical concerns).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Cooke; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Linville; Morton; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Sommers; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry; and Wolfe.

Staff:  Susan Nakagawa (786-7145).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife:  No new changes were recommended.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.