BILL REQ. #:  S-0367.6 

Read first time 01/26/09.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to increasing hunting safety; amending RCW 77.32.155; adding a new section to chapter 77.32 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 79.10 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 77.32 RCW to read as follows:
     A youth hunter under the age of sixteen must be accompanied by an individual who is a Washington-licensed hunter, who is not deferred pursuant to RCW 77.32.155(2), who has held a Washington hunting license for the prior three years, and who is over eighteen years of age. For the purposes of this section, "accompanied" means to go along with another person while staying within a range of the other person that permits continual unaided visual and auditory communication.

Sec. 2   RCW 77.32.155 and 2007 c 163 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) When purchasing any hunting license, persons under the age of eighteen shall present certification of completion of a course of instruction of at least ten hours in the safe handling of firearms, safety, conservation, and sportsmanship. All persons purchasing any hunting license for the first time, if born after January 1, 1972, shall present such certification.
     (b) The director may establish a program for training persons in the safe handling of firearms, conservation, and sportsmanship and shall prescribe the type of instruction and the qualifications of the instructors. The director may cooperate with the National Rifle Association, organized sportsmen's groups, or other public or private organizations when establishing the training program.
     (c) Upon the successful completion of a course established under this section, the trainee shall receive a hunter education certificate signed by an authorized instructor. The certificate is evidence of compliance with this section.
     (d) The director may accept certificates from other states that persons have successfully completed firearm safety, hunter education, or similar courses as evidence of compliance with this section.
     (e) A youth hunter under the age of sixteen shall complete a course established under this section within two years prior to purchasing the youth hunter's first hunting license in Washington.
     (2)(a) The director may authorize a once in a lifetime, one license year deferral of hunter education training for individuals who are accompanied by a nondeferred Washington-licensed hunter who has held a Washington hunting license for the prior three years and is over eighteen years of age. The commission shall adopt rules for the administration of this subsection to avoid potential fraud and abuse.
     (b) The director is authorized to collect an application fee, not to exceed twenty dollars, for obtaining the once in a lifetime, one license year deferral of hunter education training from the department. This fee must be deposited into the fish and wildlife enforcement reward account and must be used exclusively to administer the deferral program created in this subsection.
     (c) For the purposes of this subsection, "accompanied" means to go along with another person while staying within a range of the other person that permits continual unaided visual and auditory communication.
     (3) To encourage the participation of an adequate number of instructors for the training program, the commission shall develop nonmonetary incentives available to individuals who commit to serving as an instructor. The incentives may include additional hunting opportunities for instructors.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall create and maintain a user-friendly web site that shows major recreation areas that are also used for hunting and the appropriate hunting seasons so that the public can access this information.
     (2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific section, the department shall place signs that include information regarding hunting seasons on its lands that are used for both recreation and hunting.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 79.10 RCW under the subchapter heading "general provisions" to read as follows:
     Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific section, the department shall place signs that include information regarding hunting seasons on its lands that are used for both recreation and hunting.