SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5399

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Natural Resources & Parks, February 21, 1997

Title:  An act relating to juvenile hunting, fishing, shellfish, and seaweed licenses.

Brief Description:  Revising the juvenile age limits on hunting, fishing, shellfish, and seaweed licenses.

Sponsors:  Senators Roach and Strannigan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  1/14/97, 2/21/97 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  Juveniles under the age of 15 are allowed to fish in recreational fisheries without a fishing license.  They are also allowed to collect shellfish and seaweed without a license.

A reduced fee steelhead fishing license is available for $6 to juveniles under 15 years old.

Increasing the age for free juvenile fishing and for the reduced fee steelhead license will encourage recreational fishing by youthful fishers.

Summary of Bill:  Juveniles under 18 years old may fish recreationally for food fish and game fish, and collect shellfish and seaweed without a license.

The reduced fee juvenile steelhead license is available to persons under 18 years of age.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Increasing the age for free juvenile fishing will help the responsible development of youth and provide much-needed recreational opportunities.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Laurie Glass-Goerg, R&R (pro); James Goerg, The Reel News (pro); Tom Nelson, Puget Sound Anglers (pro); Lynn Norden, Chairman, Parks Commission, City of Duvall; Shari Stoican, Rods & Reels for Kid, Puget Sound angler (pro); Ric Abbett, Trout Unlimited (pro).