H-3578.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2168

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Buck, McMorris, Mulliken, Goldsmith, Benton, Blanton, Thompson, Hymes, Koster, Pennington, Mastin, Beeksma, Sheldon, Kessler, Carrell, Smith, L. Thomas, Morris, Fuhrman, D. Schmidt, Elliot, Johnson, Backlund and McMahan

Read first time 01/08/96.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Providing fishing licenses at reduced fees for persons fifteen through eighteen years of age.

     AN ACT Relating to juvenile fishing licenses; amending RCW 75.25.091, 75.25.092, 77.32.101, and 77.32.360; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that youth under eighteen years of age benefit from outdoor activities such as fishing, but that such opportunities may be prohibitively expensive.  The legislature declares that providing fishing licenses at reduced fees is a benefit not only for these youth, but to the state of Washington.

     Sec. 2.  RCW 75.25.091 and 1994 c 255 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) A personal use food fish license is required for all persons other than residents under fifteen years of age to fish for, take, or possess food fish for personal use from state waters or offshore waters.  A personal use food fish license is not required under this section to fish for, take, or possess carp, smelt, or albacore.

     (2) The fees for annual personal use food fish licenses include the one dollar regional fisheries enhancement surcharge imposed in RCW 75.50.100 and are as follows:

     (a) For a resident fifteen through seventeen years of age, three dollars;

(b) For a resident eighteen years of age or older and under seventy years of age, eight dollars;

     (((b))) (c) For a resident seventy years of age or older, three dollars; and

     (((c))) (d) For a nonresident, twenty dollars.

     (3) The fee for a three-consecutive-day personal use food fish license is five dollars, and includes the one-dollar regional fishery enhancement group surcharge imposed in RCW 75.50.100.

     (4) An annual personal use food fish license is valid for a maximum catch of fifteen salmon, after which another annual personal use food fish license may be purchased.

     (5) An annual personal use food fish license is valid for an annual maximum catch of fifteen sturgeon.  No person may take more than fifteen sturgeon in any calendar year.

     Sec. 3.  RCW 75.25.092 and 1994 c 255 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license is required for all persons other than residents under fifteen years of age to fish for, take, dig for, or possess seaweed or shellfish except crawfish (Pacifastacus sp.) for personal use from state waters or offshore waters including national park beaches.

     (2) The fees for annual personal use shellfish and seaweed licenses are:

     (a) For a resident fifteen through seventeen years of age, three dollars;

(b) For a resident eighteen years of age or older and under seventy years of age, five dollars;

     (((b))) (c) For a resident seventy years of age or older, three dollars; and

     (((c))) (d) For a nonresident, twenty dollars.

     (3) The fee for a three-consecutive-day personal use shellfish and seaweed license is five dollars.

     Sec. 4.  RCW 77.32.101 and 1994 c 255 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) A combination hunting and fishing license allows a resident holder to hunt, and to fish for game fish throughout the state.  The fee for this license is twenty-nine dollars.

     (2) A hunting license allows the holder to hunt throughout the state.  The fee for this license is fifteen dollars for residents and one hundred fifty dollars for nonresidents.

     (3) A fishing license allows the holder to fish for game fish throughout the state.  The fee for this license is seventeen dollars for residents ((fifteen)) eighteen years of age or older and under seventy years of age, three dollars for residents fifteen through seventeen years of age or seventy years of age or older, twenty dollars for nonresidents under ((fifteen)) eighteen years of age, and forty-eight dollars for nonresidents ((fifteen)) eighteen years of age or older.

     (4) A steelhead fishing license allows the holder of a combination hunting and fishing license or a fishing license issued under this section to fish for steelhead throughout the state.  The fee for this license is eighteen dollars.

     (5) A juvenile steelhead license allows residents under ((fifteen)) eighteen years of age and nonresidents under ((fifteen)) eighteen years of age who hold a fishing license to fish for steelhead throughout the state.  The fee for this license is six dollars and entitles the holder to take up to five steelhead at which time another juvenile steelhead license may be purchased.  Any person who purchases a juvenile steelhead license is prohibited from purchasing a steelhead license for the same calendar year.

     Sec. 5.  RCW 77.32.360 and 1995 c 116 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) Each person who returns a steelhead catch record card to an authorized license dealer within thirty days following the period for which it was issued shall be given a credit equal to five dollars towards that day's purchase of any license, permit, transport tag, or stamp required by this chapter.  This subsection does not apply to annual steelhead catch record cards for persons under the age of ((fifteen)) eighteen.

     (2) Catch record cards necessary for proper management of the state's game fish resources shall be administered under rules adopted by the director and issued at no charge.

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