BILL REQ. #:  H-0881.1 

Read first time 01/22/2003.   Referred to Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to exempting active duty military personnel from certain temporary fishing license restrictions; and amending RCW 77.32.470.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.32.470 and 1998 c 191 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A personal use saltwater, freshwater, combination, temporary, or family fishing weekend license is required for all persons fifteen years of age or older to fish for or possess fish taken for personal use from state waters or offshore waters.
     (2) The fees for annual personal use saltwater, freshwater, or combination licenses are as follows:
     (a) A combination license allows the holder to fish for or possess fish, shellfish, and seaweed from state waters or offshore waters. The fee for this license is thirty-six dollars for residents, seventy-two dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for youth.
     (b) A saltwater license allows the holder to fish for or possess fish taken from saltwater areas. The fee for this license is eighteen dollars for residents, thirty-six dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for resident seniors.
     (c) A freshwater license allows the holder to fish for, take, or possess food fish or game fish species in all freshwater areas. The fee for this license is twenty dollars for residents, forty dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for resident seniors.
     (3) A temporary fishing license is valid for two consecutive days and allows the holder to fish for or possess fish taken from state waters or offshore waters. The fee for this temporary fishing license is six dollars for both residents and nonresidents. Except for active duty military personnel serving in any branch of the United States armed forces, this license is not valid on game fish species for an eight-consecutive-day period beginning on the opening day of the lowland lake fishing season.
     (4) A family fishing weekend license allows for a maximum of six anglers: One resident and five youth; two residents and four youth; or one resident, one nonresident, and four youth. This license allows the holders to fish for or possess fish taken from state waters or offshore waters. The fee for this license is twenty dollars. This license is only valid during periods as specified by rule of the department.
     (5) The commission may adopt rules to create and sell combination licenses for all hunting and fishing activities at or below a fee equal to the total cost of the individual license contained within any combination.