BILL REQ. #:  S-1672.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/22/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to ensuring hunter safety; amending RCW 77.32.155; adding a new section to chapter 77.15 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.32.155 and 2009 c 269 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)(i) 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 shall, as part of establishing the training program, exempt members of the United States military from the firearms skills portion of any instruction course completed over the internet.
     (ii) 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.
     (2))) To purchase a Washington hunting license for the first time, a person born after January 1, 1972, must present proof of successfully passing a hunter education training course. Proof is either:
     (a) A hunter education certificate of completion from a course instructed by or being taught under a contract with the department in the safe handling of firearms, safety, conservation, and ethical hunting behavior; or
     (b) A hunter education certificate from another state or country whose course is department approved.
     (2) No one under age eight is eligible to take a hunter education training course in Washington or to purchase a Washington hunting license.
     (3) Members of the United States military who are residents of or stationed in Washington are exempt from the firearms skills portion of any hunter education training course instructed by or being taught under a contract with the department and completed over the internet.
     (4) Upon the successful completion of a hunter education training course instructed by or being taught under a contract with the department in the safe handling of firearms, safety, conservation, and ethical hunting behavior, the trainee must receive an approved hunter education certificate.
     (5) All hunters under the age of fourteen are required to hunt in compliance with section 2 of this act.
     (6)(a) The ((director)) department 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)), while hunting, by a hunter currently licensed to hunt in Washington, age eighteen or older, and whose Washington license is not a one-year deferral license. The commission shall adopt rules for the administration of this subsection to avoid potential fraud and abuse.
     (b) The ((director)) department 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))) (7) For the purposes of this ((subsection)) 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.
     (((3))) (8) To encourage the participation of an adequate number of instructors for the hunter education training ((program)) course, 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. 2   A new section is added to chapter 77.15 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) All hunters under age fourteen must be accompanied, while hunting, by a hunter who is currently licensed to hunt in Washington, is age eighteen or older, and whose Washington hunting license is not a one-year deferral license. However, a hunter under the age of fourteen is not required to be accompanied if he or she is the immediate family member of a private property owner or lessee and is hunting on property his or her family owns or is leasing.
     (2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Accompanied" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 77.32.155.
     (b) "Immediate family member" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 77.12.047.
     (3) A violation of this section is a natural resources infraction subject to the provisions of chapter 7.84 RCW.