FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5020

                          C 243 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing dealers of recreational licenses to collect a fee of at least two dollars for each license sold.

Sponsors:  Senators Snyder and Winsley.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Natural Resources

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  Dealers who sell fishing and hunting licenses, permits, tags, and stamps issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife receive a dealer fee of $1 on each license sold and 50 cents on each tag, permit, and stamp sold.  Dealer fees are set by the Fish and Wildlife Commission and are uniform throughout the state.

The fishing and hunting license statutes were significantly changed in the 1998 legislative session.  In addition, the use of online computers was mandated to begin in 1999.  Both of these changes require additional investments in training of license clerks and additional resources from license dealers.  Dealers= fees can be statutorily increased to compensate dealers for their increased costs.

Summary:  Dealers= fees set by the Fish and Wildlife Commission for the issuance of fishing and hunting licenses must be a minimum of $2 per license.

A transaction fee may be established by the commission and collected from license buyers who purchase licenses from an automated licensing service.  The amount of the transaction fee is not specified.  The transaction fee is paid directly to a contractor providing the automated licensing service.

The commission may set a dealer fee below the level set for each standard hunting and fishing license for tags, stamps, or cards.

A two-day personal use shellfish and seaweed license is created for residents and nonresidents.  The fee is $6.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 35 12

House     63 31 (House amended)

Senate    33 13 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  May 10, 1999