HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6529

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to fish and wildlife department recreational fishing and hunting licenses.

Brief Description:  Requiring the fish and wildlife commission to simplify licensing requirements for recreational hunting and fishing.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Drew, Owen, Oke, Sutherland and Winsley).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/23/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Pennington, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Elliot; Hatfield; Keiser; Sheldon; Stevens; B. Thomas and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  The recreational fishing and hunting license structure of the Department of Fish and Wildlife is complex.  The department sells 23 types of recreational license documents.  In addition, the department issues catch record cards and disability cards.

Summary of Bill:  The Fish and Wildlife Commission is required to develop proposed legislation to simplify and modernize the recreational fishing and hunting license system prior to the 1998 legislative session.  The goal of the legislation is to reduce the number of recreational licenses while not affecting total revenue generated by the licenses.  Additional purposes of the commission's proposed legislation include removing burdens and improving service to recreational license buyers and vendors. 

The commission is specifically required to evaluate eliminating the distinction between game fish and food fish and to evaluate the need to simplify catch record card information. 

The commission is directed to make interim improvements to the current license system to improve service to license buyers and vendors.

By December 1, 1996, the commission is required to change the current license system to eliminate fraudulent issuance of duplicate licenses and to report to the Legislature on the changes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The intent of the bill is to decrease the total number of recreational license documents.  The number of licenses is due, in part, to the merger of the departments of Fish and Wildlife.  Another intent of the bill is to automate the license system.  Oregon and Idaho have recently begun using automated license systems.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Becky Bogard, GTECH/TSI (pro); and Bruce Crawford, Department of Fish and Wildlife.