H-1249.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1478

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Clements, Buck, Huff, Lisk, Mulliken, McDonald, Honeyford, Sehlin, McMorris, Sump, Sheldon, Parlette, Skinner, Chandler, Kessler, Hatfield and Grant

Read first time 01/28/97.  Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

Feeding wildlife during severe winter weather.

    AN ACT Relating to feeding wildlife during episodes of severe winter weather; creating a new section; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature recognizes that, during severe winter weather conditions, big game herds of deer and elk living on limited winter ranges are at risk of starvation and may be driven to forage on private property, damaging crops and other vegetation.  It is, therefore, in the public interest to feed deer and elk on an emergency basis when such conditions occur.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The sum of one million four hundred thirty-eight thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to the department of fish and wildlife.  The amount appropriated in this section is provided solely for the emergency feeding of deer and elk that may be at risk of starvation and are posing a risk to crops or other private property due to severe winter conditions beginning in early November 1996 and forecast to continue until March 1997.  If any of the moneys provided in this section remain unexpended after March 31, 1997, such moneys shall revert to the general fund to be expended only for emergency winter feeding as needed when severe winter weather conditions occur during the biennium ending June 30, 1999, as directed by legislative appropriation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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