SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6101

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Natural Resources, January 18, 1996

Title:  An act relating to food fish and shellfish license requirements.

Brief Description:  Establishing a free shellfish digging weekend and including steelhead trout in the free fishing weekend.

Sponsors:  Senators Drew, Strannigan, Spanel and Snyder.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  1/11/96, 1/18/96 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6101 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  The Washington Legislature has authorized family fishing days in current law.  The statute allows the Director of Fish and Wildlife to adopt rules for family fishing days, which are those days when a recreational fishing license is not required in order to fish for food fish or shellfish.  Many states have similar programs to encourage knowledge of the fishery and to increase family use of the resource.  (A two-thirds vote is required since this bill amends one section of referendum 45.)

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The department may include steelhead trout on the free fishing day.  A separate shellfish day is established and no punch cards are required for any free fishing.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill clarifies the intent of the original bill and amends referendum 45 (1995) rather than the earlier statute.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The department would be happy to work with staff to develop a bill to clarify the statute.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Judith Freeman, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (pro).