HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2292

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Fisheries & Wildlife

Title:  An act relating to hunting licenses.

Brief Description:  Providing free hunting licenses to veterans who are confined to wheelchairs.

Sponsors:  Representatives Conway, Basich, Kremen, Rayburn, Orr, Lisk, Dyer, Sheahan, King, Chappell, Johanson, Sheldon, Flemming, Jones, Eide, Schoesler, Campbell, Long, Roland, Chandler and Kessler.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Fisheries & Wildlife, February 4, 1994, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

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

Staff:  Keitlyn Watson (786-7310).

Background:  Under RCW 77.32.230, the state Department of Wildlife issues a free hunting and game fishing license on request to any honorably discharged veteran, age 65 or older, with a service-connected disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or by any branch of the armed forces of the United States, and with state residency of at least five years.

Disabled veterans under 65 do not qualify for free hunting licenses; neither do disabled veterans of any age whose disability is non-service-connected.  

Summary of Amended Bill:  A free hunting license shall be issued on request to any honorably discharged veteran of any age who is confined to a wheelchair, and has resided in the state at least five years.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Removes the requirement that someone who qualifies for a free hunting license must have a non-service-connected disability certified by the VA.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For Original Bill:  Disabled veterans have small pensions.  Free hunting licenses would help with their families' subsistence needs. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Conway, prime sponsor (pro); Glenn Galbreath, P.V.A. Northwest (pro); and Lesley Brines, Department of Wildlife (neutral, with concerns:  the VA does not certify non-service-connected disability).