H-1154.3  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1655

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Sump, Doumit, Pearson, Rockefeller and Clements

Read first time 01/31/2001.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Appointing a fish and wildlife advisory committee composed of disabled persons.

    AN ACT Relating to the creation of an advisory committee to the fish and wildlife commission composed of disabled individuals; adding a new section to chapter 77.04 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.04 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The commission must appoint an advisory committee to generally represent the interests of disabled hunters and fishers on matters including, but not limited to, special hunts, modified sporting equipment, access to public land, and hunting and fishing opportunities.  The advisory committee is composed of five members, each member being a person with a disability.  Two members of the advisory committee must be residents of that portion of the state lying east of the summit of the Cascade mountains, and two must be residents of that portion of the state lying west of the summit of the Cascade mountains.  One additional member must be appointed at large.  The chair of the advisory committee must be a member of the advisory committee and be selected by the members of the advisory committee.

    (2) For the purposes of this section, a person with a disability includes but is not limited to:

    (a) A permanently disabled person who is not ambulatory over natural terrain without a prosthesis or assistive device;

    (b) A permanently disabled person who is unable to hold or use any legal fishing or shell fishing device;

    (c) A permanently disabled person who is unable to hold or shoot a firearm or other legal hunting device in a conventionally acceptable manner;

    (d) A person who is totally blind or visually impaired; or

    (e) A permanently disabled person with upper or lower extremity impairments who has lost the use of one or both upper or lower extremities.

    (3) The members of the advisory committee are appointed for a four-year term.  If a vacancy occurs on the advisory committee prior to the expiration of a term, the commission must appoint a replacement within sixty days to complete the term.

    (4) The advisory committee must meet at least semi-annually, and may meet at other times as requested by a majority of the advisory committee members for any express purpose that directly relates to the duties set forth in subsection (1) of this section.  A majority of members currently serving on the advisory committee constitutes a quorum.  The department must provide two staff support persons for all official advisory committee meetings.

    (5) Members of the advisory committee serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses as authorized in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

    (6) The members of the advisory committee, or individuals acting on their behalf, are immune from civil liability for official acts performed in the course of their duties.

    (7) The advisory committee created in this section constitutes a pilot program.  By December 1, 2004, the commission must present a report to the appropriate legislative committees detailing the effectiveness of the advisory committee, including but not limited to the participation levels, general interest, quality of advice, and recommendations as to the advisory committee's continuance or modification.

    (8) This section expires July 1, 2005.

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