BILL REQ. #:  S-0780.1 

Read first time 01/25/2005.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to community outreach regarding grizzly bears; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the grizzly bear is a federally listed threatened species throughout the lower forty-eight states and listed as state endangered by the state of Washington. The north Cascades mountains in Washington are one of the regions which until the 20th century supported a significant grizzly bear population. While the current population estimate is that there are less than twenty bears in this region of Washington state, there is a need to provide education and information to communities in this region to address public concerns and provide factual information about grizzly bear ecology and behavior, sanitation, and safety in bear country. The grizzly bear population in the north Cascades may become locally extinct if recovery actions are not undertaken, and one of the most critical actions needed is to promote positive human-bear coexistence through education, outreach, and community involvement.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The department of fish and wildlife shall provide one or more grants for projects that provide community outreach and public information regarding grizzly bears in the north Cascades mountains. The projects funded must be designed to work closely with communities in this region and have the objective of providing accurate information about grizzly bear ecology, biology, and behavior, provide education on how local residents can coexist safely with bears, and provide opportunities for people who live in these areas to express their ideas, opinions, and concerns.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The sum of forty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of fish and wildlife for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, to carry out the purposes of this act.