SENATE BILL REPORT
EHB 1484
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, MARCH 24, 1993
Brief Description: Creating a wildlife violator compact.
SPONSORS: Representatives King, Orr and Fuhrman; by request of Department of Wildlife
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Owen, Chairman; Hargrove, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Franklin, Haugen, Oke, Snyder, and Spanel.
Staff: Vic Moon (786‑7469)
Hearing Dates: March 24, 1993
BACKGROUND:
The concept of a wildlife violator compact was first advanced in the early 1980s by member states in the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah have adopted wildlife violator compact legislation since then.
A hunter or fisher in Washington is subject to revocation of license privileges for certain violations involving big game, hunting accidents, and repeated wildlife violations within a 10-year period. License privileges of over 250 violators are revoked by the Department of Wildlife each year. Other states do not recognize the suspension of wildlife license privileges in Washington, and Washington does not recognize such suspensions in other states.
Nonresidents violating Washington's wildlife laws are often required to post collateral or bond to secure appearance for a trial at a later date, or are taken into custody if unable to pay, or are taken directly to court for an appearance. This can be time consuming for law enforcement officials.
SUMMARY:
The wildlife violator compact is established in Washington.
When a wildlife officer issues a citation for a wildlife violation to a person from another party state, collateral to secure appearance is not required if the officer receives the person's personal recognizance that the person will comply with the terms of the citation.
If a person is convicted of a wildlife violation or fails to comply with the terms of a wildlife citation, the appropriate official is to report this to the licensing authority of the party state in which the wildlife citation was issued.
Upon receipt of the report of conviction or noncompliance, the licensing authority of the issuing state shall transmit pertinent information to the licensing authority in the home state of the violator.
Upon receipt of a report of failure to comply with the terms of a citation from the licensing authority of the issuing state, the licensing authority of the home state shall notify the violator, initiate a suspension action in accordance with the home state's suspension procedures, and suspend the violator's license until evidence of compliance with the terms of the wildlife citation has been furnished by the issuing state to the home state licensing authority.
Upon receipt of a report of conviction from the licensing authority of the issuing state, the licensing authority of the home state shall treat the conviction as if it occurred in the home state for the purposes of the suspension of license privileges.
The licensing authority of the home state shall maintain a record of actions taken and make reports to issuing states.
Parties to the compact are to recognize the suspension of license privileges of any person by any state as if the violation on which the suspension is based had, in fact, occurred in their state.
A board of compact administrators is established composed of one representative from each of the party states, to administer the provisions of the compact and powers and duties are outlined.
The relevant agency shall enter convictions in the agency's records and shall treat the conviction as if it occurred in the state of Washington for the purposes of suspension, revocation, or forfeiture of license privileges.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
TESTIMONY FOR:
The compact is needed to coordinate wildlife enforcement between states. The compact will save money by reducing court costs and red tape.
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: PRO: Representative Ron Peregrin; Mike Johnson, Bill Hebner, Dept. of Wildlife; Gary Kasowski, WA Hunter Education Assn.; Neal Houser, WA Hunter Education Assn.