SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1806

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Natural Resources & Parks, April 3, 1997

Title:  An act relating to the illegal killing and possession of wildlife.

Brief Description:  Increasing penalties for the illegal killing and possession of wildlife.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Alexander, Grant, Mastin, Buck, Johnson, Butler, Hatfield, Kessler, Sheldon, Chandler, Thompson, Regala, Anderson, Pennington, Clements, Kenney, Sullivan, Blalock, Conway, Mulliken, Tokuda, Constantine, Mason and Schoesler).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  4/3/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Prentice, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  A person convicted of the illegal killing or possession of wildlife must reimburse the state in amounts specified in statute.  These reimbursements are deposited in the public safety and education account.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature finds that wildlife is of great ecological, recreational, aesthetic, and economic value to the people of the state.  The Legislature also finds that the illegal taking and possession of certain valuable wildlife species is increasing at an alarming rate and that the state should be paid restitution for the loss of individual members of these wildlife species.

The amount of required restitution is increased for the illegal killing or possession of moose, mountain sheep, mountain goat, elk, deer, black bear, cougar, mountain caribou, grizzly bear, and other wildlife species classified as endangered by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.  New restitution categories are established for trophy animal deer, elk, and mountain sheep, and a new subsection defines what constitutes a Atrophy animal.@  A person assessed a restitution for the illegal killing or possession of wildlife must have his or her hunting license revoked and all hunting privileges suspended until the restitution is paid.  Restitution amounts vary between $2,000 and $12,000 per animal depending upon species and trophy definition.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Increased fines for big game poaching will have a deterrent effect.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Greg Schirato, WA Assoc. Prof. Biologist (pro); Dan Bronson, WDFW (pro).