S-4335.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6449
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 2000 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senator Jacobsen)
Read first time 02/02/2000.
AN ACT Relating to master wildlife-viewing guides; 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:
(1) The department is authorized to work with wildlife and ecotourism guides and nonprofit wildlife conservation organizations to identify professional practices and competencies, to implement a program of recognizing master wildlife guides, and to support wildlife-viewing tour operators as ambassadors for Washington's fish and wildlife.
(2) Program elements that may be addressed include but are not limited to:
(a) Working with guides, tour operators, and nonprofit wildlife conservation organizations to develop best management practices for viewing wildlife and to create a code of ethics for tour operators and wildlife guides that sustains and promotes wildlife resources;
(b) Developing a program to recognize professional competence for designation as a master wildlife guide;
(c) Developing a nature tourism enterprise training workshop, to assist individuals and businesses engaged in wildlife tours and as guides, to provide training and education that will lead to opportunities for displaced timber workers to enter the nature tourism business; and
(d) Providing training materials, decals recognizing master wildlife guides, publications on wildlife tour best management practices and code of ethics, information on wildlife management and habitat management programs that produce increased populations of watchable wildlife, and other publications promoting the wildlife viewing industry.
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