SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1228

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Natural Resources, March 23, 1995

Title:  An act relating to game fish catch record cards.

Brief Description:  Authorizing the director of fish and wildlife to administer game fish catch record cards.

Sponsors:  Representatives L. Thomas, Basich and Fuhrman; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  3/21/95, 3/23/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Drew, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Hargrove, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Owen, Snyder, Strannigan and Swecker.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  For a number of years, steelhead fishers have been required to purchase a catch record card (sometimes referred to as a steelhead punchcard).  The fee for the catch record card was $18.  Information from the catch record card is used by the Department of Fish and Wildlife as a management tool in its game fish program.

In 1994, the Legislature took action to create a single license document for recreational hunting and fishing and to make other changes to hunting and fishing licensing provisions as the former Department of Fisheries and Department of Wildlife merged.  The Legislature also created a new steelhead fishing license, which can be purchased by a holder of a regular fishing license or a holder of the new combination hunting and fishing license.  The fee for the steelhead license is $18, intended to mirror the fee for the catch record card.  However, the legislation that created the new steelhead license did not remove the requirement for a person to purchase the $18 steelhead catch record card.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The requirement for a steelhead fisher to purchase a catch record card is removed.  Instead, catch record cards are issued at no charge and are administered under rules adopted by the director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Statutes related to the sale of catch record cards and the treatment of catch record cards as licensing documents are amended to reflect the change in administration of the cards.  The rebate program is retained for return of steelhead catch record cards.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The $5 rebate program for return of steelhead catch record cards in a timely manner is added.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 26, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  The legislation is needed in order to prevent charging steelhead fishers twice for steelhead catch record documents.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ed Manary, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (pro).