Brief Description: Allowing the fish and wildlife commission to set a transaction fee on recreational documents issued through an automated licensing system.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Provides the Fish and Wildlife Commission with the authority to set the transaction fee on all recreational documents issued through the automated licencing system.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Cooper, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Sump, Ranking Minority Member; Hinkle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buck, Hatfield, O'Brien, Pearson and Upthegrove.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) has the authority to issue recreational hunting and fishing licenses, tags, and stamps, as well as raffle tickets and vehicle access permits. The Commission has also been delegated the responsibility to establish the methods for distributing licenses and collecting the licencing fees.

In 2001, a computerized licensing system was installed to manage the distribution of all recreational hunting and fishing licenses. The development and management of the computer system was outsourced to a private company, who may be reimbursed by a transaction fee on the sale of any recreational license. The amount of the transaction fee may be established by the Commission, and is currently 9.5 percent of the license cost. The authorizing statute provides the express authority to collect a transaction fee on license sales, but is silent on the sales of other documents, such as tags, permits, and stamps.

The Commission is provided the authority to set the transaction fee on all recreational documents issued through the automated licencing system, and is no longer just limited to recreational licenses.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This is a good, common sense bill that is needed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). Its intent is to clarify what is already being done by the DFW. The bill does not create a new cost to the consumer.

Testified: (In support) Senator Oke, prime sponsor; and Frank Hawley, Department of Fish and Wildlife.