S-0115.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5002

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Jacobsen, Oke, Honeyford, T. Sheldon, Kline, Winsley, Rossi, Patterson, Rasmussen and Costa

Read first time 01/11/1999.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation.

Creating a hot line to report poaching, dangerous wildlife, or unlawful habitat destruction.

    AN ACT Relating to a fish and wildlife hot line; and adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

    The department shall maintain a toll-free telephone hot line to assist the public in the reporting of fish and wildlife poaching, wildlife sightings that pose a threat to humans or domesticated animals, and unlawful destruction of fish and wildlife habitat.  The department shall report the results of its investigative findings back to each person who provides a poaching, dangerous wildlife, or habitat destruction report, if requested to do so by the person making the report.

    The department shall conduct a public information program in order to inform the public about the existence and purpose of the toll-free telephone hot line.

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