BILL REQ. #: H-1155.1

_____________________________________________

HOUSE BILL 1953
_____________________________________________

State of Washington

59th Legislature

2005 Regular Session

By Representatives Newhouse, Blake, Kretz, Kessler, Buri, Condotta, Roach, Eickmeyer, Haler and Orcutt

Read first time 02/11/2005. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks.

AN ACT Relating to providing a mechanism for counties to participate in the cougar control pilot project created by the 2004 legislature; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A county legislative authority may request inclusion in the cougar control pilot project authorized by chapter 264, Laws of 2004 after taking the following actions:
     (1) Adopting a resolution that requests inclusion in the pilot project;
     (2) Documenting the need to participate in the pilot project by identifying the number of cougar/human encounters and livestock and pet depredations; and
     (3) Demonstrating that existing cougar depredation permits, public safety cougar hunts, or other existing wildlife management tools have not been sufficient to deal with cougar incidents in the county.

--- END ---