S-3984.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6790

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Spanel and Gardner

Read first time 02/05/2002.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Increasing personal use shellfish license fees.

    AN ACT Relating to authorizing the increase of personal use shellfish license fees to fund biotoxin testing and monitoring by the department of health of beaches used for recreational shellfishing; amending RCW 77.32.520; adding a new section to chapter 69.30 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that testing and monitoring of beaches used for recreational shellfishing is essential to ensure the health of recreational shellfishers.  The legislature also finds that it is essential to have a stable and reliable source of funding for such biotoxin testing and monitoring.  The legislature also finds that the cost of the resident and nonresident personal use shellfish and seaweed licenses is undervalued and not properly aligned with neighboring states and provinces.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 77.32.520 and 2000 c 107 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license is required for all persons other than residents or nonresidents under fifteen years of age to fish for, take, dig for, or possess seaweed or shellfish for personal use from state waters or offshore waters including national park beaches.

    (2) The fees for annual personal use shellfish and seaweed licenses are:

    (a) For a resident fifteen years of age or older, seven dollars;

    (b) For a nonresident fifteen years of age or older, twenty dollars; and

    (c) For a senior, five dollars.

    (3) The license fee for a two-day personal use shellfish and seaweed license is six dollars for residents or nonresidents fifteen years of age or older.

    (4) The personal use shellfish and seaweed license shall be visible on the licensee while harvesting shellfish or seaweed.

(5) In addition to the fees authorized in this section, the department shall include a surcharge, as determined by rule by the department of health, to fund biotoxin testing and monitoring of beaches used for recreational shellfishing.  Amounts collected from this surcharge shall be deposited in a general fund-local account managed by the department of health.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 69.30 RCW to read as follows:

    The department must by rule establish a surcharge on personal use shellfish and seaweed license fees as authorized by RCW 77.32.520.  The surcharge must be sufficient to cover the full costs of, and be used exclusively to fund, biotoxin testing and monitoring of beaches used for recreational shellfishing.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  The fee increase proposed in RCW 77.32.520 must be implemented in the department of fish and wildlife's license fee structure for the license year beginning April 1, 2003.

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