BILL REQ. #:  S-1926.1 

Read first time 02/23/2005.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to a Washington coastal Dungeness crab pot buoy tag program; amending RCW 77.70.430 and 77.70.440; and adding a new section to chapter 77.70 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.70.430 and 2001 c 234 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In order to administer a Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program, the department may charge a fee to holders of a Dungeness crab -- Puget Sound fishery license to reimburse the department for the production of Puget Sound crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program.
     (2) In order to administer a Washington coastal Dungeness crab pot buoy tag program, the department may charge a fee to holders of a Dungeness crab -- coastal or a Dungeness crab coastal class B fishery license to reimburse the department for the production of Washington coastal crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag program.

Sec. 2   RCW 77.70.440 and 2001 c 234 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All revenues from fees from RCW 77.70.430(1) must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from this account may be used for the production of crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW but no appropriation is required for expenditures.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 77.70 RCW to read as follows:
     The Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All revenues from fees from RCW 77.70.430(2) must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from this account may be used for the production of crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag program. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW but no appropriation is required for expenditures.