Brief Description: Facilitating outdoor recreational opportunities for the terminally ill.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senators Kilmer, Swecker, Jacobsen, Morton, Schoesler, Sheldon, Murray and Rasmussen).

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

Background: The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) is charged with the management of the state's wildlife resources, including classifying wildlife, regulating the taking of wildlife, regulating the equipment and methods used to take wildlife, and establishing game reserves and areas closed to hunting. DFW issues a license to a person who wishes to hunt or take wild animals, wild birds, or fish.

Summary: DFW may provide licenses, tags, permits, stamps, and fees without a charge or a transaction fee to provide a hunting or fishing opportunity to a terminally ill person. DFW may accept donations of a raffle permit, an incentive permit, or an opportunity to hunt during a special hunting season from donors who want to contribute to a hunting opportunity for a terminally ill person.

DFW may accept special permits or other special hunting opportunities from donors who want to provide a hunting opportunity for a terminally ill person. DFW may also enter into agreements with a landowner to provide a hunting opportunity for a terminally ill person. DFW may promulgate rules as necessary to implement this section.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      45   0
House      95   0

Effective: June 12, 2008