H-1792.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2183

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Rockefeller, Eickmeyer, Lantz, Haigh, Dunshee, Pennington, Jackley, Woods, Doumit, Edwards and Murray

Read first time 02/22/2001.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Creating a program to remove derelict fishing gear.

    AN ACT Relating to derelict fishing gear; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; creating a new section; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall operate an agency program for the removal and disposal of derelict fishing gear.  The derelict fishing gear program may include activities to:  Create and maintain a data base of known derelict fishing gear, provide for public reporting of located derelict fishing gear, reduce the future losses of fishing gear, search out sites where derelict fishing gear has been reported as lost, evaluate and prioritize derelict fishing gear sites for removal, or develop tools to remove derelict fishing gear or to render it ineffective.

    (2) In implementing and operating the derelict fishing gear program, the department must coordinate with interest groups, tribal comanagers, and other interested parties.

    (3) The department may contract for the removal of derelict fishing gear or for other components of the derelict fishing gear program.

    (4) The department must investigate the feasibility of different methods to encourage or require the reporting of lost fishing gear by commercial and recreational fishers.  The department shall report the results of this investigation, along with agency recommendations, to the appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 2003.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) The sum of two hundred six thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, from the general fund to the department of fish and wildlife for the purposes of this act.

    (2) The sum of two hundred six thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to the department of fish and wildlife for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2001, this act is null and void.

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