HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6450

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to wildlife publications.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the deposit and use of moneys for wildlife publications.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senator Jacobsen).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/23/00, 2/25/00 [DPA].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

            (As Amended by House Committee)

$Allows the Department of Fish and Wildlife to recover the full cost of fisheries and wildlife publications it produces, except for regulation pamphlets, which must be provided free of cost.

$Allows the department to sell advertisements in publications, and to charge enrollment fees for educational training events.

$Moneys from publications, advertisements, and enrollment fees are placed into the wildlife fund, and must primarily be spent for producing regulation booklets and other publications.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Buck, Republican Co-Chair; Regala, Democratic Co-Chair; Anderson, Democratic Vice Chair; Doumit; Eickmeyer; Ericksen; Pennington; Rockefeller and Stensen.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Sump, Republican Vice Chair; G. Chandler and Clements.

Staff:  Josh Weiss (786-7129).

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife receives money from the sale of interpretive, recreational, historical, and informational literature and materials.  In addition, advertisements in regulation pamphlets and enrollment in department sponsored educational training events also generate moneys.  Moneys from the sale of fisheries-related materials are placed in the general fund, while moneys from the sale of wildlife-related materials are placed in the wildlife fund.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Allows the Department of Fish and Wildlife to recover the full cost of fisheries and wildlife publications it produces, except for regulation pamphlets, which must be provided free of cost.  The department is also allowed to sell advertisements in publications, and to charge enrollment fees for educational training events.  Moneys from publications, advertisements, and enrollment fees are placed into the wildlife fund, and must primarily be spent for producing regulation booklets and other publications.  However, moneys may also be spent for necessary expenses associated with training activities and other activities.  The director is allowed to enter into joint ventures with other agencies and organizations to generate revenue for providing public information. 

Prior provisions governing the use and disbursement of moneys generated from the sale of fisheries and wildlife publications are repealed.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The provision governing the use and disbursement of moneys generated from the sale of fisheries' publications is repealed.  Such moneys were formerly placed into the general fund, and are now placed into the wildlife fund.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill would help the department in its challenge to be innovative in finding new revenue sources.  There is tremendous public support in informational materials produced by the department.  The provision in the fisheries code should also be repealed.  This bill would allow the department to offer training activities, including viewing opportunities (such as viewing the sage grouse), field trips, and training for beginning guides.  Currently all of the profits from Landscaping for Wildlife are going to the University of Washington Press, rather than to the department.  This bill gives the department the ability to be better business people.  The Audubon Society supports this bill and would like to see money reinvested into watchable wildlife activities.  Our chapters already provide field trip activities, but this would allow us to team up with the department in providing such activities. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Steve Pozzanghera and Mike O'Malley, Washington Department of Fish and wildlife; and Ron Shultz, National Audubon Society.