AN ACT Relating to commercial fishers; amending RCW 77.65.280, 77.15.565, 77.15.620, 77.15.640, 36.71.090, and 69.07.100; adding new sections to chapter 77.65 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 69.04 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that commercial fishing is vitally important not just to the economy of Washington, but also to the cultural heritage of the maritime communities in the state. Fisher men and women have a long and proud history in the Pacific Northwest. State and local governments should seek out ways to enable and encourage these professionals to share the rewards of their craft with the nonfishing citizens of and visitors to the state of Washington by encouraging the exploration and development of new niche markets.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 77.65 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department must establish and administer a direct retail endorsement to serve as a single license that permits the holder of a Washington salmon or crab commercial fishing license to clean, dress, and sell his or her catch directly to consumers at retail, including over the internet. The direct retail endorsement must be issued as an optional addition to all holders of a salmon or crab commercial fishing license that the department offers under this chapter.

(2) The direct retail endorsement must be offered at the time of application for the qualifying commercial fishing license. Individuals in possession of a qualifying commercial fishing license issued under this chapter may add a direct retail endorsement to their current license at the time they renew their commercial fishing license. Individuals who do not have a commercial fishing license for salmon or crab issued under this chapter may not receive a direct retail endorsement. The costs, conditions, responsibilities, and privileges associated with the endorsed commercial fishing license is not affected or altered in any way by the addition of a direct retail endorsement. These costs include the base cost of the license and any revenue and excise taxes.

(3) An individual need only add one direct retail endorsement to his or her license portfolio. If a direct retail endorsement is selected by an individual holding more than one commercial fishing license issued under this chapter, a single direct retail endorsement is considered to be added to all qualifying commercial fishing licenses held by that individual, and is the only license required for the individual to sell at retail the harvest of salmon or crab permitted by all of the underlying endorsed licenses. The direct retail endorsement applies only to the person named on the endorsed license, and may not be used by an alternate operator named on the endorsed license.

(4) In addition to any fees charged for the endorsed licenses and harvest documentation as required by this chapter or the rules of the department, the department may set a reasonable annual fee not to exceed the administrative costs to the department for a direct retail endorsement.

(5) The holder of a direct retail endorsement is responsible for documenting the commercial harvest of salmon and crab according to the provisions of this chapter, the rules of the department for a wholesale fish dealer, and the reporting requirements of the endorsed license. Any salmon or crab caught by the holder of a direct retail endorsement must be landed in the round and documented on fish tickets, as provided for by the department, before further processing.

(6) The direct retail endorsement must be displayed in a readily visible manner by the seller wherever and whenever a sale to someone other than a licensed wholesale dealer occurs. For sales occurring in a venue other than in person, such as over the internet, through a catalog, or on the phone, the direct retail endorsement number of the seller must be provided to the buyer both at the time of sale and the time of delivery. All internet sales must be conducted in accordance with federal laws and regulations.

(7) The direct retail endorsement is to be held by a natural person and is not transferrable or assignable. If the endorsed license is transferred, the direct retail endorsement immediately becomes void, and the transferor is not eligible for a full or prorated reimbursement of the annual fee paid for the direct retail endorsement. Upon becoming void, the holder of a direct retail endorsement must surrender the physical endorsement to the department.

(8) The holder of a direct retail endorsement must abide by the provisions of Title 69 RCW as they apply to the processing and retail sale of seafood. The department must distribute a pamphlet, provided by the department of agriculture, with the direct retail endorsement generally describing the labeling requirements set forth in chapter 69.04 RCW as they apply to seafood.

(9) The holder of a qualifying commercial fishing license issued under this chapter must either possess a direct retail endorsement or a wholesale dealer license provided for in RCW 77.65.280 in order to lawfully sell their catch or harvest in the state to anyone other than a licensed wholesale dealer.

(10) The direct retail endorsement entitles the holder to sell wild-caught salmon or crab only at a temporary food service establishment as that term is defined in RCW 69.06.045.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 77.65 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Prior to being issued a direct retail endorsement, an individual must:

(a) Obtain and submit to the department a signed letter on appropriate letterhead from the health department of the county in which the individual makes his or her official residence or where the hailing port for any documented vessel owned by the individual is located as to the fulfillment of all requirements related to county health rules, including the payment of all required fees. The local health department generating the letter may charge a reasonable fee for any necessary inspections. The letter must certify that the methods used by the individual to transport, store, and display fresh salmon and crabs meets that county's standards and the statewide standards adopted by the board of health for food service operations; and

(b) Submit proof to the department that the individual making the direct retail sales is in possession of a valid food and beverage service worker's permit, as provided for in chapter 69.06 RCW.

(2) The requirements of subsection (1) of this section must be completed each license year before a renewal direct retail endorsement can be issued.

(3) Any individual possessing a direct retail endorsement must notify the local health department of the county in which retail sales are to occur, except for the county that conducted the initial inspection, forty-eight hours before any transaction and make his or her facilities available for inspection by a fish and wildlife officer, the local health department of any county in which he or she sells salmon or crab, and any designee of the department of health or the department of agriculture.

(4) Neither the department or a local health department may be held liable in any judicial proceeding alleging that consumption of or exposure to seafood sold by the holder of a direct retail endorsement resulted in a negative health consequence, as long as the department can show that the individual holding the direct retail endorsement complied with the requirements of subsection (1) of this section prior to being issued his or her direct retail license, and neither the department nor a local health department acted in a reckless manner. For the purposes of this subsection, the department or a local health district shall not be deemed to be acting recklessly for not conducting a permissive inspection.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 77.65 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The direct retail endorsement is conditioned upon compliance:

(a) With the requirements of this chapter as they apply to wholesale fish dealers and to the rules of the department relating to the payment of fines for violations of rules for the accounting of the commercial harvest of salmon or crabs; and

(b) With the state board of health and local rules for food service establishments.

(2) Violations of the requirements and rules referenced in subsection (1) of this section may result in the suspension of the direct retail endorsement. The suspended individual must not be reimbursed for any portion of the suspended endorsement. Suspension of the direct retail endorsement may not occur unless and until:

(a) The director has notified by order the holder of the direct retail endorsement when a violation of subsection (1) of this section has occurred. The notification must specify the type of violation, the liability to be imposed for damages caused by the violation, a notice that the amount of liability is due and payable by the holder of the direct retail endorsement, and an explanation of the options available to satisfy the liability; and

(b) The holder of the direct retail endorsement has had at least ninety days after the notification provided in (a) of this subsection was received to either make full payment for all liabilities owed or enter into an agreement with the department to pay off all liabilities within a reasonable time.

(3)(a) If, within ninety days after receipt of the order provided in subsection (2)(a) of this section, the amount specified in the order is not paid or the holder of the direct retail endorsement has not entered into an agreement with the department to pay off all liabilities, the prosecuting attorney for any county in which the persons to whom the order is directed do business, or the attorney general upon request of the department, may bring an action on behalf of the state in the superior court for Thurston county, or any county in which the persons to whom the order is directed do business, to seek suspension of the individual's direct retail endorsement for up to five years.

(b) The department may temporarily suspend the privileges provided by the direct retail endorsement for up to one hundred twenty days following the receipt of the order provided in subsection (2)(a) of this section, unless the holder of the direct retail endorsement has deposited with the department an acceptable performance bond on forms prescribed and provided by the department. This performance bond must be a corporate surety bond executed in favor of the department by a corporation authorized to do business in the state of Washington under chapter 48.28 RCW and approved by the department. The bond must be filed and maintained in an amount equal to one thousand dollars.

(4) For violations of state board of health and local rules under subsection (1)(b) of this section only, any person inspecting the facilities of a direct retail endorsement holder under section 3 of this act may suspend the privileges granted by the endorsement for up to seven days. Within twenty-four hours of the discovery of the violation, the inspecting entity must notify the department of the violation. Upon notification, the department may proceed with the procedures outlined in this section for suspension of the endorsement. If the violation of a state board of health rule is discovered by a local health department, that local jurisdiction may fine the holder of the direct retail endorsement according to the local jurisdiction's rules as they apply to retail food operations.

(5) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section do not apply to a holder of a direct retail endorsement that executes a surety bond and abides by the conditions established in RCW 77.65.320 and 77.65.330 as they apply to wholesale dealers.

Sec. 5. RCW 77.65.280 and 2000 c 107 s 48 are each amended to read as follows:

A wholesale fish dealer's license is required for:

(1) A business in the state to engage in the commercial processing of food fish or shellfish, including custom canning or processing of personal use food fish or shellfish.

(2) A business in the state to engage in the wholesale selling, buying, or brokering of food fish or shellfish. A wholesale fish dealer's license is not required of those businesses which buy exclusively from Washington licensed wholesale dealers and sell solely at retail.

(3) Fishermen who land and sell their catch or harvest in the state to anyone other than a licensed wholesale dealer within or outside the state, unless the fisher has a direct retail endorsement.

(4) A business to engage in the commercial manufacture or preparation of fertilizer, oil, meal, caviar, fish bait, or other byproducts from food fish or shellfish.

(5) A business employing a fish buyer as defined under RCW 77.65.340.

The annual license fee for a wholesale dealer is two hundred fifty dollars. A wholesale fish dealer's license is not required for persons engaged in the processing, wholesale selling, buying, or brokering of private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020. However, if a means of identifying such products is required by rules adopted under RCW 15.85.060, the exemption from licensing requirements established by this subsection applies only if the aquatic products are identified in conformance with those rules.

Sec. 6. RCW 77.15.565 and 2000 c 107 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

Since violation of the rules of the department relating to the accounting of the commercial harvest of food fish and shellfish result in damage to the resources of the state, liability for damage to food fish and shellfish resources is imposed on a wholesale fish dealer or the holder of a direct retail endorsement for violation of a provision in chapter 77.65 RCW or a rule of the department related to the accounting of the commercial harvest of food fish and shellfish and shall be for the actual damages or for damages imposed as follows:

(1) For violation of rules requiring the timely presentation to the department of documents relating to the accounting of commercial harvest, fifty dollars for each of the first fifteen documents in a series and ten dollars for each subsequent document in the same series. If documents relating to the accounting of commercial harvest of food fish and shellfish are lost or destroyed and the wholesale dealer or holder of a direct retail endorsement notifies the department in writing within seven days of the loss or destruction, the director shall waive the requirement for timely presentation of the documents.

(2) For violation of rules requiring accurate and legible information relating to species, value, harvest area, or amount of harvest, twenty-five dollars for each of the first five violations of this subsection following July 28, 1985, and fifty dollars for each violation after the first five violations.

(3) For violations of rules requiring certain signatures, fifty dollars for each of the first two violations and one hundred dollars for each subsequent violation. For the purposes of this subsection, each signature is a separate requirement.

(4) For other violations of rules relating to the accounting of the commercial harvest, fifty dollars for each separate violation.

Sec. 7. RCW 77.15.620 and 2000 c 107 s 253 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A person is guilty of engaging in fish dealing activity without a license in the second degree if the person:

(a) Engages in the commercial processing of fish or shellfish, including custom canning or processing of personal use fish or shellfish and does not hold a wholesale dealer's license required by RCW 77.65.280(1) or 77.65.480 for anadromous game fish, or a direct retail endorsement under section 2 of this act;

(b) Engages in the wholesale selling, buying, or brokering of food fish or shellfish and does not hold a wholesale dealer's or buying license required by RCW 77.65.280(2) or 77.65.480 for anadromous game fish;

(c) Is a fisher who lands and sells his or her catch or harvest in the state to anyone other than a licensed wholesale dealer within or outside the state and does not hold a ((~~wholesale dealer's license required by RCW 77.65.280(3) or 77.65.480 for anadromous game fish~~)) direct retail endorsement required by section 2 of this act; or

(d) Engages in the commercial manufacture or preparation of fertilizer, oil, meal, caviar, fish bait, or other byproducts from food fish or shellfish and does not hold a wholesale dealer's license required by RCW 77.65.280(4) or 77.65.480 for anadromous game fish.

(2) Engaging in fish dealing activity without a license in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor.

(3) A person is guilty of engaging in fish dealing activity without a license in the first degree if the person commits the act described by subsection (1) of this section and the violation involves fish or shellfish worth two hundred fifty dollars or more. Engaging in fish dealing activity without a license in the first degree is a class C felony.

Sec. 8. RCW 77.15.640 and 2000 c 107 s 255 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A person who holds a wholesale fish dealer's license required by RCW 77.65.280, an anadromous game fish buyer's license required by RCW 77.65.480, ((or)) a fish buyer's license required by RCW 77.65.340, or a direct retail endorsement under section 2 of this act is guilty of violating rules governing wholesale fish buying and dealing if the person:

(a) Fails to possess or display his or her license when engaged in any act requiring the license;

(b) Fails to display or uses the license in violation of any rule of the department;

(d) Violates any other rule of the department regarding wholesale fish buying and dealing.

(2) Violating rules governing wholesale fish buying and dealing is a gross misdemeanor.

Sec. 9. RCW 36.71.090 and 1984 c 25 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) It shall be lawful for any farmer, gardener, or other person, without license, to sell, deliver, or peddle any fruits, vegetables, berries, eggs, or any farm produce or edibles raised, gathered, produced, or manufactured by such person and no city or town shall pass or enforce any ordinance prohibiting the sale by or requiring license from the producers and manufacturers of farm produce and edibles as herein defined: PROVIDED, That nothing herein authorizes any person to sell, deliver, or peddle, without license, in any city or town, any dairy product, meat, poultry, eel, fish, mollusk, or shellfish where a license is required to engage legally in such activity in such city or town.

(2) It is lawful for an individual in possession of a valid direct retail endorsement, as established in section 2 of this act, to sell, deliver, or peddle wild-caught salmon or crab that is caught, harvested, or collected under rule of the department of fish and wildlife by such a person at a temporary food service establishment, as that term is defined in RCW 69.06.045, and no city, town, or county may pass or enforce an ordinance prohibiting the sale by or requiring additional licenses or permits from the holder of the valid direct retail endorsement. However, this subsection does not prohibit a city, town, or county from inspecting an individual displaying a direct retail endorsement to verify that the person is in compliance with state board of health and local rules for food service operations.

Sec. 10. RCW 69.07.100 and 1995 c 374 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to establishments issued a permit or licensed under the provisions of:

(1) Chapter 69.25 RCW, the Washington wholesome eggs and egg products act;

(2) Chapter 69.28 RCW, the Washington state honey act;

(3) Chapter 16.49 RCW, the Meat inspection act;

(4) Chapter 77.65 RCW, relating to the direct retail endorsement for wild-caught seafood;

(5) Title 66 RCW, relating to alcoholic beverage control; and

((~~(5)~~)) (6) Chapter 69.30 RCW, the Sanitary control of shellfish act((~~: PROVIDED, That~~)). However, if any such establishments process foods not specifically provided for in the above entitled acts, such establishments shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to restaurants or food service establishments.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 69.04 RCW to read as follows:

The department of agriculture must develop a pamphlet that generally describes the labeling requirements for seafood, as set forth in this chapter, and provide an adequate quantity of the pamphlets to the department of fish and wildlife to distribute with the issuance of a direct retail endorsement under section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. This act takes effect July 1, 2002.