Brief Description: Establishing a wildlife rehabilitation program.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Jacobsen, Prentice, Fairley, Kline, Marr, Kohl-Welles, Tom, Murray, Keiser and Rasmussen).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation
Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has the authority to manage and protect the wildlife in Washington State. Wildlife rehabilitation is defined in the Washington Administrative Code as "the care and treatment of injured, diseased, oiled, or abandoned wildlife, including , but not limited capture, transporting, veterinary treatment, feeding, housing, exercise therapy, and any other treatment or training necessary for release back to the wild."

Wildlife rehabilitation is a profession that is licensed by the DFW. It is currently unlawful for a person to possess wildlife for the purpose of rehabilitation unless that person has a valid wildlife rehabilitation permit, or is working under the supervision of a person with a valid permit.

The Department of Licensing currently collects a fee of $40 for the privilege of purchasing a personalized license plate. The revenue is deposited into the state wildlife account.

Summary: The DFW must establish a wildlife rehabilitation program. The DFW must contract for wildlife response and rehabilitation services in each of the six administrative regions. To be eligible to participate in the program, a wildlife rehabilitator must: be properly licensed under state and federal law; submit to a criminal background check. Expenditures that are permitted under this program include: reimbursement for diagnostic and lab support services; purchase and maintenance of restraints and equipment used in the capture, transportation, temporary housing, and release of wildlife; and reimbursement for the cost of contracted veterinarian services. Funds may not be used to rehabilitate nonnative species and/or nuisance animals.

A fee of $2 is added to the cost of a personalized license plate and dedicated to the Wildlife Response and Rehabilitation Account. The additional fee is collected effective with registrations due or to become due on or after January 1, 2008.

The DFW must develop a process for renewing wildlife rehabilitation licenses. All wildlife rehabilitation licenses issued by the DFW prior to January 1, 2006, must be renewed by January 1, 2010.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      43   6
House      52   46   (House amended)
Senate      36   10   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   July 22, 2007