S‑0542.1   _____________________________________________

SENATE BILL 5125

           _____________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Rasmussen, Kohl‑Welles, Oke and Patterson

Read first time 01/11/2001.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines.

_1      AN ACT Relating to wildlife conservation awards; and adding a

_2  new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.

_3  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

_4      NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12

_5  RCW to read as follows:

_6      (1) The wildlife conservationist award program is created in

_7  the department.  The purpose of the program is to recognize

_8  individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward

_9  conserving Washington=s diverse plant and animal populations.

10      (2) The program consists of two annual awards as follows:

11      (a) The Art Kruckeberg award shall be presented to an

12  individual making outstanding contributions toward conserving the

13  state=s plants and plant communities; and

14      (b) The Hazel Wolf award shall be presented to an individual

15  making outstanding contributions toward conserving the state=s

16  animals and animal communities.

17      (3) The recipient of each award is entitled to select a

18  nonprofit wildlife conservation organization to receive a sum of

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_1  up to twenty-five thousand dollars from the state.  The organization

_2  must be qualified as a tax-exempt organization under section

_3  501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code (26 U.S.C. Sec.

_4  501(c)(3)), and must agree to commit the sum to the organization=s

_5  wildlife conservation activities in Washington.

_6      (4) The department must develop guidelines for selecting award

_7  recipients and incorporate into the program elements that provide

_8  for public recognition of the contributions made by the

_9  recipients.  The department may create an advisory committee to

10  assist the department in developing the guidelines and in

11  selecting recipients.

‑‑‑ END ‑‑‑

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