BILL REQ. #:  S-3776.4 

Read first time 01/16/2006.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to hunting; and adding a new section to chapter 77.36 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 77.36 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any county composed entirely of islands, any of which are connected with the mainland by state highway, may, after the effective date of this section, allow hunting on county-owned lands that contain a trail system constructed or maintained for purposes of outdoor recreation or on county-owned waterfront property surrounded on all sides by homes only where:
     (a) The county sheriff's office is provided with the resources necessary to secure the safety of all persons and property on and around such county-owned lands available for hunting;
     (b) The board of county commissioners holds, at least annually, a public hearing on the issue of hunting on such county-owned lands; and
     (c) Notice of the dates and specific county-owned lands on which hunting will be allowed is given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least one week prior to, and weekly during, the use of such lands for hunting.
     (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a county composed entirely of islands, any of which are connected with the mainland by state highway, may not, after the effective date of this section, allow hunting on county-owned lands that contain a trail system constructed or maintained for purposes of outdoor recreation or on county-owned waterfront property surrounded on all sides by homes where the county sheriff makes a written finding that the sheriff's office has not been provided with the resources necessary to secure the safety of all persons and property on and around such county-owned lands available for hunting and provides copies of such a written finding to the county clerk and the county commissioners.
     (3) Notwithstanding subsections (1)(a), (1)(b), and (2) of this section, a county composed entirely of islands, any of which are connected with the mainland by state highway, may allow hunting on county-owned lands that contain a trail system constructed or maintained for purposes of outdoor recreation or on county-owned waterfront property surrounded on all sides by homes in coordination with a special hunt authorized by the department under RCW 77.12.150, upon a written finding by both the department and the county that a game animal population poses a danger to persons, property, or habitat within the county and after providing notice pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of this section.