SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6301
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines, January 28, 2002
Title: An act relating to group fishing permits.
Brief Description: Allowing the issuance of a group fishing permit to a facility.
Sponsors: 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].
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 Substitute 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.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The group fishing permit is valid only for persons who are in the care of the facility, for occasional use and during open season periods. The director must issue group fishing permits if applicants meet conditions specified by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.
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).