Title: An act relating to specialized forest products.

Brief Description: Concerning specialized forest products.

Sponsors: House Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives B. Sullivan, McCoy, Upthegrove, Chase, P. Sullivan, Appleton, Eickmeyer, Newhouse, Miloscia, Dunshee, Conway and Buck).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/14/06, 85-11.

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 2/22/06, 2/23/06 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Oke, Ranking Minority Member; Fraser, Hargrove, Morton, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff: Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background: A specialized forest products permit is required to harvest certain materials from state forests, such as more than five native ornamental trees or Christmas trees, or over five gallons of edible mushrooms. The permit is granted by the county's sheriff's office and must be signed by the owner of the property where the harvest will occur. The permit-holder must have the permit in possession while harvesting and transporting the authorized product. Violations constitute a gross misdemeanor and are punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to a year in jail, or both.

Summary of Amended Bill: A specialized forest products permit is required in order to harvest over three gallons of huckleberries within Washington. Nursery-grown huckleberries are exempt. When harvesting huckleberries in any amount, harvesters may not use rakes, mechanical devices, or any other methods which damage huckleberry bushes. Seized huckleberries must be offered to an Indian tribe if the huckleberries were taken from the tribe's ceded areas, instead of offering them to the owner of the land from which they were harvested. The berries will be offered to the tribe at no charge for ceremonial, educational, or religious uses.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: The scientific name for huckleberry is corrected so that the bill will not effect wild blueberries or cranberries.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: Commercial harvest of huckleberries needs to be regulated in order to maintain the valuable resource. Over harvest and improper harvest methods are damaging the resource and this is particularly serious since the berry is an important ceremonial and food force for native tribal members.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Dawn Vyvyan, Thresa selam, kate Valdez, and David Powell, Yakima Nation.