HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5625

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to hunting licenses.

Brief Description:  Clarifying hunting license requirements.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Drew, Oke and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  3/22/95, 3/28/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Pennington, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Cairnes; Elliot; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Romero; Sheldon; Stevens; B. Thomas and Thompson.

Staff:  Linda Byers (786-7129).

Background:  In order to hunt migratory waterfowl, a person must have a hunting license and a migratory waterfowl stamp.  Hunting licenses are issued for a calendar year and expire on January 1.  A migratory waterfowl stamp is good for a specified season which extends into the next calendar year.  This can result in a situation where a hunter must buy a new hunting license in order to finish out the season covered by the migratory waterfowl stamp.

Summary of Bill:  If a hunter has both a valid migratory waterfowl stamp for a season which extends into January and a valid hunting license, that person may hunt migratory waterfowl into January without having to purchase a new hunting license.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This addresses a glitch in the current regulations.  The license should track with the period of the hunt.  Since the stamp is on your license, it is easy to feel that it is okay to hunt into the new year, only to find yourself technically poaching.  This way you do not have to chase around in the last few days of the year to buy a new license.  The department has no trouble with this.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, prime sponsor; Basil Badley; Mel Sorensen; Willy O'Neil; and Clark Sitzes (all in favor).  Ed Manary, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.