BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to feeding wildlife during emergency conditions; amending RCW 77.32.101, 77.32.340, and 77.32.340; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that wintering wildlife should exist under natural conditions supported by suitable habitat. Although artificial feeding may assist in wildlife winter survival, it should not be considered a substitute for lost habitat. The legislature recognizes, however, that it is in the public interest to feed wildlife on an emergency basis, beyond the department of fish and wildlife's regular winter feeding operations. The legislature further recognizes that hunters and others may be willing to make voluntary contributions to support emergency winter feeding operations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall initiate an effort to solicit voluntary contributions to fund emergency winter feeding efforts. The department shall provide an opportunity for the purchasers of hunting licenses, combination hunting and fishing licenses, deer tags, and elk tags to voluntarily contribute to this effort. The department may also solicit other donations to support emergency winter feeding. Funds received by the department in response to its solicitation of voluntary contributions for emergency winter feeding efforts shall be deposited in the wildlife fund and shall be used only for emergency winter feeding operations and associated costs.

When the department determines that seasonal conditions will likely require emergency winter feeding operations, the department shall provide to the legislature information on the extent of the emergency, an estimate of the total amount of funds necessary to address the emergency winter feeding, and information on the total funds raised by the department for emergency winter feeding.

Sec. 3. RCW 77.32.101 and 1997 c 395 s 1 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. The holder may contribute one additional dollar to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding.

(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. The holder may contribute one additional dollar to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding.

(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 years of age or older and under seventy years of age, three dollars for residents seventy years of age or older, and forty-eight dollars for nonresidents fifteen years of age or older.

The license fee for a nonresident juvenile under fifteen years of age is twenty dollars unless the juvenile is fishing with an adult who holds a current game fish license, in which case there is no license fee.

(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 years of age and nonresidents under fifteen 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. 4. RCW 77.32.340 and 1997 c 114 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Fees for transport tags shall be as follows:

(1) The fee for a resident deer tag is eighteen dollars. The fee for a nonresident deer tag is sixty dollars. The holder may contribute one additional dollar to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding.

(2) The fee for a resident elk tag is twenty-four dollars. The fee for a nonresident elk tag is one hundred twenty dollars. The holder may contribute one additional dollar to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding.

(3) The fee for a resident and nonresident bear tag shall be established by the commission in an amount not to exceed eighteen dollars and one hundred eighty dollars, respectively. Should the commission choose to make black bear transport tags available at no cost, then the commission may determine that for purposes of achieving species harvest management goals that a transport tag is not required to hunt black bear.

(4) The fee for a resident and nonresident cougar tag shall be established by the commission in an amount not to exceed twenty-four dollars and three hundred sixty dollars, respectively. Should the commission choose to make cougar transport tags available at no cost, then the commission may determine that for purposes of achieving species harvest management goals that a transport tag is not required to hunt cougar.

(5) The fee for a mountain goat tag is sixty dollars for residents and one hundred eighty dollars for nonresidents. The fee shall be paid at the time of application. Applicants who are not selected for a mountain goat special season permit shall receive a refund of this fee, less five dollars.

(6) The fee for a sheep tag is ninety dollars for residents and three hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents and shall be paid at the time of application. Applicants who are not selected for a sheep special season permit shall receive a refund of this fee, less five dollars.

(7) The fee for a moose tag is one hundred eighty dollars for residents and three hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents and shall be paid at the time of application. Applicants who are not selected for a moose special season permit shall receive a refund of this fee, less five dollars.

(8) The fee for a wild turkey tag is eighteen dollars for residents and sixty dollars for nonresidents.

(9) The fee for a lynx tag is twenty-four dollars for residents and three hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents and shall be paid at the time of application. Applicants who are not selected for a lynx special season permit shall receive a refund of this fee, less five dollars.

Sec. 5. RCW 77.32.340 and 1998 c . . . s 4 (section 4 of this act) are each amended to read as follows:

Fees for transport tags shall be as follows:

(1) The baseline fee for a resident deer tag is eighteen dollars. The fee for a nonresident deer tag is sixty dollars. The holder may contribute one additional dollar to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding.

(2) The baseline fee for a resident elk tag is twenty-four dollars. The fee for a nonresident elk tag is one hundred twenty dollars. The holder may contribute one additional dollar to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding.

(8) The fee for a wild turkey tag is eighteen dollars for residents and sixty dollars for nonresidents.

(10) The department may charge a one-dollar additional fee above the baseline fee to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding. Funds received through these charges shall be used only for emergency winter feeding operations and associated costs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Section 5 of this act takes effect July 1, 2000.