ESSB 5001 - H AMD TO H COMM AMD (5001-S.E AMH NR H5011.1)

By Representatives Buck and Kessler

On page 2, after line 2 of the amendment, strike everything through "relocations." on line 18 and insert the following:

"(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the director from issuing a permit or memorandum of understanding to a public agency, university, or scientific or educational institution for the use of a dog or dogs for the pursuit, or capture and relocation, of black bear, cougar, bobcat, or lynx for scientific purposes.

(c) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the director from issuing a permit or memorandum of understanding to a public agency, university, or scientific or educational institution for the use of a dog or dogs for the killing of black bear, cougar, or bobcat, for the protection of a state and/or federally listed threatened or endangered species.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, the commission shall authorize the use of dogs only in selected areas within a game management unit to address a public safety need presented by one or more cougar. This authority may only be exercised after the commission has determined that no other practical alternative to the use of dogs exists, and after the commission has adopted rules describing the conditions in which dogs may be used. Conditions that may warrant the use of dogs within a game management unit include, but are not limited to, confirmed cougar/human safety incidents, confirmed cougar/livestock and cougar/pet depredations, and the number of cougar capture attempts and relocations."

Correct any internal references accordingly.

EFFECT: Eliminates the department's authority to issue a permit to a public agency, university, or scientific or educational institution for the use of a dog or dogs to remove black bear, cougar, bobcat, or lynx for scientific purposes. Provides authority for the director to issue a permit to a public agency, university, or scientific or educational institution for the use of a dog or dogs for the killing of black bear, cougar, or bobcat for the protection of a state and/or federally listed threatened or endangered species. Replaces the reference to cougar populations with a reference to one or more cougar.