BILL REQ. #:  H-1311.2 



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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1146
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State of Washington60th Legislature2007 Regular Session

By House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives B. Sullivan, Kretz, Pettigrew, Hinkle, Linville, Kristiansen, Blake, Takko, Newhouse, Warnick, Hailey, Grant, Armstrong, Kessler, Kenney, Haigh, Moeller and McCune)

READ FIRST TIME 02/02/07.   



     AN ACT Relating to increasing the amount of money available to the department of fish and wildlife to pay claims under RCW 77.36.040 without requiring the legislature to declare an emergency; amending RCW 77.36.080; and repealing RCW 77.36.070.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.36.080 and 1996 c 54 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department may pay no more than ((thirty)) one hundred fifty thousand dollars per fiscal year from the general fund and one hundred fifty thousand dollars from the state wildlife account created in RCW 77.12.170 for claims under RCW 77.36.040 and for assessment costs and compromise of claims ((unless)). The department may exceed the limit on general fund expenditures, consistent with this section, if the legislature declares an emergency. ((Such)) Money allocated under this section shall be used to pay animal damage claims only if the claim meets the conditions of RCW 77.36.040 ((and the damage occurred in a place where the opportunity to hunt was restricted or prohibited by a county, municipality, or other public entity during the season prior to the occurrence of the damage)).
     (2) The legislature may declare an emergency, defined for the purposes of this section as any happening arising from weather, other natural conditions, or fire that causes unusually great damage to commercially raised agricultural or horticultural crops by deer or elk. In an emergency, the department may pay as much as may be subsequently appropriated, in addition to the funds authorized under subsection (1) of this section, for claims under RCW 77.36.040 and for assessment and compromise of claims. Such money shall be used to pay animal damage claims only if the claim meets the conditions of RCW 77.36.040 and the department has expended all funds authorized under ((RCW 77.36.070 or)) subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   RCW 77.36.070 (Limit on total claims from *wildlife fund per fiscal year) and 1996 c 54 s 8 are each repealed.

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