BILL REQ. #:  H-0783.2 

Read first time 02/13/2003.   Referred to Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to commercial fisheries; adding new sections to chapter 77.70 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 77.70 RCW to read as follows:
     The commercial fisheries permit buyback account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from money collected by the commission under section 2 of this act, moneys appropriated for the purposes of this section, and other gifts, grants, or donations specifically made to the fund must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purpose of repaying moneys advanced by the federal government under a fleet reduction, groundfish permit buyback program established by the federal government. Only the director of fish and wildlife or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 77.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The fish and wildlife commission shall collect a fee from persons holding an ocean pink shrimp delivery license issued under RCW 77.65.390, a Dungeness crab--coastal fishery license issued under RCW 77.70.280, or a salmon troll license issued under RCW 77.65.160 to repay the federal government for moneys advanced by the federal government under a fleet reduction, groundfish permit buyback program established by the federal government.
     (2) The commission shall adopt a fee schedule by rule for the collection of the fee required by subsection (1) of this section. The fee schedule adopted shall limit the total amount of moneys collected through the fee to the minimum amount necessary to repay the moneys advanced by the federal government. Additionally, the commission shall adjust the fee schedule such that the money collected from each person holding an ocean pink shrimp delivery license issued under RCW 77.65.390, a Dungeness crab--coastal fishery license issued under RCW 77.70.280, or a salmon troll license issued under RCW 77.65.160 is proportional to the benefits derived from the permit buyback program by persons holding permits issued under the following statutes:
     (a) Ocean troll salmon fishery;
     (b) Ocean pink shrimp fishery; and
     (c) Ocean Dungeness crab fishery.
     (3) The commission shall deposit moneys collected under this section in the commercial fisheries permit buyback account created in section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 77.70 RCW to read as follows:
     The fish and wildlife commission may not assess the fee specified under section 2 of this act until after the federal government creates the fleet reduction, groundfish permit buyback program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 77.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Sections 1 through 3 of this act expire January 1, 2006.
     (2) Any balance in the commercial fisheries permit buyback account that is unexpended and unobligated on January 1, 2006, and all moneys that would have been deposited in the account must be deposited in the general fund.