SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2626

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Parks, Fish & Wildlife, February 24, 2004

Title: An act relating to the department of fish and wildlife's authority to allocate certain moneys.

Brief Description: Allowing the department of fish and wildlife to allocate certain forfeited moneys for coastal groundfish management and research.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Hatfield, Pearson, Blake and Sump; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Parks, Fish & Wildlife: 2/23/04, 2/24/04 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, FISH & WILDLIFE

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Sheahan, Vice Chair; Jacobsen, Morton, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff: Kari Guy (786-7437)

Background: Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) allow experimental fisheries that are exempt from standard fishing regulations and are designed to test the ability of innovative fishing gears targeted at healthy stocks. Exempted Fishing Permits may be granted by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and Washington has conducted EFP fisheries for arrowtooth flounder, pollock, and dogfish.

Catch limits are established for each fishery and catch over the limit, or "legal overages," are forfeited to the state. The state sells the legal overages at fair market value and proceeds are deposited in the state general fund.

The "unanticipated receipts" process permits state agencies to spend, without an appropriation, moneys received from the federal government or from other sources. The typical unanticipated receipt is a one-time occurrence that does not permanently increase agency staffing, activity, or funding levels. Currently, proceeds received by the Department of Fish and Wildlife from the sale of fish taken in test fishing and from the sale of herring spawn on kelp fishery licenses are allocated through the unanticipated receipt process.

Summary of Bill: The fish management and research account is created. Amounts received by the Department of Fish and Wildlife for coastal groundfish forfeitures, sale of herring spawn on kelp licenses, and sale of fish caught in test fisheries are deposited in the account. The account is not appropriated.

Funds deposited in the account from the forfeiture of coastal groundfish may be used only for coastal groundfish management and research.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill will make it easier for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage agency funds.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Ed Owens, Coalition of Coastal Fisheries; Morris Barker, WDFW.