FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6301

C 266 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing the issuance of a group fishing permit to a facility.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Oke, Jacobsen, Spanel, Snyder, Hargrove and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines

House Committee on Natural Resources

Background:  Recreational fishing is legal without a fishing license for persons under the care of a state licensed or state-operated care facility that obtains a group fishing permit from the director.

Family members or caregivers of the persons in the state authorized care facility desire to fish in the group authorized activity without a license.

Summary:  The director is given the authority to issue a group fishing permit to a state-operated or state-licensed care facility.  Nonprofit facilities are now eligible for group fishing permits.  The definition of persons who may participate under a group fishing permit is expanded to include handicapped and seriously or terminally ill persons and persons who are dependent on the state because of emotional or physical disabilities.

Group fishing permits are restricted in use to open seasons.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission must adopt rules governing the issuance of group fishing permits.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate470

House960(House amended)

Senate450(Senate concurred)

Effective:  June 13, 2002