Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

 ANALYSIS

Natural Resources Committee

 

 

ESSB 5831

 

Brief Description:  Repealing the provisions of Initiative No. 713.

 

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker, Fairley, Oke, Constantine, Regala, Rasmussen and Hochstatter).

 

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

$Repeals the provisions of Initiative 713, the ?trap ban@ initiative.

 

 

Hearing Date:  2/22/02

 

Staff:  Jason Callahan (786‑7117).

 

Background:

 

In November of 2000 the voters of Washington passed Initiative 713.  This initiative made it a gross misdemeanor to use any body‑gripping trap to capture any mammal, or to use a leghold or neck snare trap to capture a mammal for recreation or commerce.  The initiative also made it illegal to buy, sell, barter, or otherwise exchange the fur of a mammal that has been trapped with a body‑gripping trap.  Common rat and mouse traps are exempted from the definition of body‑gripping traps.

 

The Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife may grant permits to use certain traps in limited circumstances, including protection of public health and safety, and wildlife research.

 

Article 2, section 41 of the Washington State Constitution allows the Legislature to repeal or modify a citizen's initiative.  However, if the initiative has been passed by the voters within the previous two years,  two‑thirds of both houses must vote to repeal or amend an initiative.

 

Summary of Bill:

 

The provisions of initiative 713, the "trap ban" initiative, are repealed.  It is not unlawful to use a body-gripping, neck snare, or leghold trap to capture a mammal, or to buy, sell, or barter the fur of a mammal that was trapped.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

 

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