SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5893
As Passed Senate, March 18, 2003
Title: An act relating to fish and wildlife automated recreational licensing.
Brief Description: Allowing the fish and wildlife commission to set a transaction fee on recreational documents issued through an automated licensing system.
Sponsors: Senator Oke.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Parks, Fish & Wildlife: 3/4/03 [DP].
Passed Senate: 3/18/03, 49-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, FISH & WILDLIFE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Sheahan, Vice Chair; Doumit, Esser, Jacobsen, Spanel and Swecker.
Staff: Kari Guy (786-7437)
Background: Recreational fishing and hunting licenses are sold by dealers around the state through an automated licensing system. In addition to the cost of a license, a buyer pays a fee to the dealer for any license document, as set by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The buyer also pays a transaction fee on any recreational license, currently set by the Fish and Wildlife Commission at 9.5 percent of the cost of the license or permit. The transaction fee is paid to the contractor for the automated license system.
Existing law specifies the transaction fee may be set by the commission on recreational licenses. The transaction fee is also currently applied to other documents issued through the automated license system such as special hunt permits or raffles.
Summary of Bill: The Fish and Wildlife Commission may set a transaction fee for any recreational document issued through the automated licensing system.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This clarifies the original intent that all recreational documents must include a transaction fee. The WILD automated license fee has been very well received by the public and dealers. This bill will not increase any license fees, only clarify collection of the transaction fee.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Frank Hawley, Evan Jacoby, WDFW.