SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 6277

              As Passed Senate, February 7, 1996

Title:  An act relating to vouchers for game fish licenses.

Brief Description:  Providing vouchers for game fish licenses.

Sponsors:  Senator Drew.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources:  1/11/96, 1/16/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/7/96, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Erika Lim (786-7488)

Background:  Steelhead licenses were administered by the former Department of Wildlife and were valid from May 1 until April 30.  When the Department of Wildlife merged with the Department of Fisheries in 1994, the validity of steelhead licenses became coincidental with calendar years, to provide consistency with other licenses administered by the Department of Fisheries.  Persons who purchased steelhead licenses after May 1, 1995, received licenses that expired on December 31, 1995, instead of April 30, 1996.

Persons who return steelhead catch record cards to an authorized license dealer within 30 days of the card's expiration are given a $5 credit toward any license, permit, transport tag, or stamp purchased that day.

Summary of Bill:  Persons who purchased steelhead licenses that expired on December 31, 1995, are entitled to a voucher worth one third of the cost of the 1995 steelhead license toward a 1997 steelhead license.  In order to get the voucher, a person may present a 1995 steelhead license, 1995 steelhead catch card, or an affidavit available from the department.  The voucher is worth $2 for a juvenile steelhead license and $6 for all other steelhead licenses.

Persons who return steelhead catch record cards to an authorized license dealer within 30 days of the card's expiration are entitled to a $5 voucher toward the purchase of any license, permit, transport tag, or stamp.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  People who brought steelhead licenses in 1995 paid the fee for a full year but received a license valid for eight months.  This bill would correct that unfairness.

Testimony Against:  There are questions as to how the provisions of this bill would be implemented.

Testified:  Judith Freeman, WDFW; Bill Reinard, Wildcat Steelhead Club (pro); John Kelly, King County Outdoor Sports Council (pro).

House Amendment(s):  Persons who returns steelhead catch record cards to the department within 30 days of the card's expiration are issued a $5 credit toward the purchase of the next year's steelhead license.