SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6301

As Passed Senate, February 13, 2002

Title:  An act relating to group fishing permits.

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines:  1/23/02, 1/28/02 [DPS].

Passed Senate:  2/13/02, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6301 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Hargrove, McDonald, Morton, Oke, Snyder and Spanel.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786‑7413)

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 of Bill:  The director is given the authority to issue a group fishing permit.  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.

Group fishing permits are restricted in use to open seasons or occasional use.

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

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  More persons would like to qualify for group fishing permits.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Steven J. Trujillo, Prime Time Inc. (pro); Jack Needham, Frank Hawley, Fish and Wildlife (pro); James R. Lange, Prime Time (pro).

House Amendment(s):  Persons who are dependent on the state because of emotional or physical developmental disabilities are eligible for group fishing permits.  Group fishing permits are issued on a seasonal basis rather than occasional use specified in the Senate version of the bill.