FINAL BILL REPORT

                           ESSB 5980

PARTIAL VETO

                         C 17 L 93 E1

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to fishing licenses.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Owen, Spanel and Rinehart; by request of Office of Financial Management)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

BACKGROUND:

Revenues from commercial and recreational food fish license fees and landing taxes are deposited into the general fund.  Current revenue from these sources is approximately $13 million per biennium and is equal to 26 percent of the general fund expenditures by the Department of Fisheries.

Recreational fees are derived from resident and nonresident licenses for personal use, salmon, sturgeon, Hood Canal shrimp, and razor clam harvest.  Two-day licenses are also available for personal use, salmon and sturgeon fishing.  Licenses are not required for individuals under 15 years of age or over 70 years.  There is also a $1 surcharge on salmon license fees to support the Washington Regional Enhancement Groups Fund.

In 1991, revenues from recreational licenses provided $2.9 million to the general fund.  Fees from 6,158 resident and nonresident commercial licenses amounted to $1.6 million in 1991.  In the same year landing taxes accounted for an additional $2.1 million.

SUMMARY:

Recreational fishing licenses are consolidated into resident and nonresident personal use and shellfish licenses.  Two-day licenses are also available.  Fees are standardized and increased to $7 for annual personal use licenses.

A personal use shellfish license is created.  The annual license fee is $5 and the license is required for the recreational harvest of shellfish and seaweed.

Commercial landing tax rates are increased by 5 percent.

A surcharge of $75 is added to all commercial licenses.  An ad valorem tax is added to the renewal fee for transfer of limited entry licenses.  Delivery permits and license transfer fees are increased.  Sea urchin and sea cucumber license fees are increased.

A 400 crab pot limit is established for commercial fishers of coastal crab. 

The act expires on January 1, 1998.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

First Special Session

Senate    27   18

House     49   49   (House amended; failed)

House     52   46   (House reconsidered)

Senate    29   18   (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:January 1, 1994

Partial Veto Summary:  The veto of section 33 removes the expiration date for the act and thereby makes the fee increases permanent.  The veto of sections 50 and 51 removes the 400 crab pot limit on the commercial coastal crab fishery.  (See VETO MESSAGE)