Title: An act relating to wildlife harvest reports.

Brief Description: Concerning wildlife reporting requirements.

Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen, Doumit, Fraser and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Brief History:

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/24/05, 56-40.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority/Minority Report: None.

Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).

Background:

All individuals that hunt deer, elk, turkey, or bear are required to report their hunting successes or failures to the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) during the calendar year in which their hunting license applied. Activity reports can be submitted to the Department either by way of a toll tree automated phone system or through the Department's internet website. If a hunter fails to submit his or her hunting activity report, then the Department may deny that hunter's application for a hunting license the following year until the report is completed.

In addition to having subsequent license applications denied, a hunter that fails to complete his or her harvest report may be prosecuted for a misdemeanor.

Summary of Bill:

It is no longer a misdemeanor to not submit harvest effort information required by the Department. Instead, the Fish and Wildlife Commission may levy an administrative penalty of up to $10 per person against hunters that fail to submit a harvest effort report. The Commission may require that the administrative penalty be paid before the individual can be issued a hunting license in subsequent years.

The Department must prepare an annual report for the Legislature that details the rate of compliance with the reporting requirements and the amount of revenue generated by the administrative penalties collected.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.