SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5017

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Natural Resources, January 27, 1995

                Ways & Means, February 23, 1995

Title:  An act relating to commercial fishery licenses.

Brief Description:  Establishing commercial fishery license fee and renewal provisions for years with no fishing season.

Sponsors:  Senator Snyder.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  1/17/95, 1/27/95 [DPS].

Ways & Means:  2/22/95, 2/23/95 [DPS (NAT)].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5017 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

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

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:   It is not clear that the Department of Fish and Wildlife's director has clear authority to not collect license fees for a commercial fishery if the department does not allow a commercial fishery.  With the moratoriums in effect for several commercial fisheries, it is necessary to provide that the failure to fish for a year will not invalidate a person's ability to receive licenses in subsequent years.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  If the Department of Fish and Wildlife does not allow a commercial fishing season during a license year, the department may either waive the license fee for a commercial fishery or may refund the commercial fishery license fee that has been paid.

If a person with a commercial license does not fulfill poundage or landing requirements during the license year because the department does not allow a fishing season, the future renewal of a person's commercial fish license is not affected.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The language is made more specific and the prohibition against refunding license fees is removed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Fishers should not have to purchase commercial licenses if they don't have an opportunity to fish.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Cyreis Schmitt, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Richard Good, Trollers Assoc.; Mark Cedergreen, Westport Charters; Ed Owens, fishers; Ernie Summers, WA Dungeness Crab Assn.; Darrel Potter, WA Food Fish Assn.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5017 as recommended by Committee on Natural Resources be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Bauer, Cantu, Drew, Finkbeiner, Fraser, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Johnson, Long, McDonald, Pelz, Snyder, Spanel, Strannigan, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Tracy Cox (786-7437)

Testimony For:  Fishers should not have to purchase commercial licenses if they do not have an opportunity to fish.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Loren Stern, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Bob Lake, Willapa Bay Gillnetters; Allan Hollingsworth, Grays Harbor Gillnetters.