BILL REQ. #:  S-0320.4 

Read first time 01/24/13.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to the discover pass; amending RCW 79A.80.020 and 79A.80.080; and adding a new section to chapter 79A.80 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 79A.80.020 and 2012 c 261 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 79A.80.050, 79A.80.060, and 79A.80.070, a discover pass is required for any motor vehicle to:
     (a) Park ((or operate on)) at any recreation site or lands, except for short-term parking as may be authorized under RCW 79A.80.070; or
     (b) Operate on any recreation site or lands.
     (2) Except as provided under section 3 of this act, the cost of a discover pass is thirty dollars. Every four years the office of financial management must review the cost of the discover pass and, if necessary, recommend to the legislature an adjustment to the cost of the discover pass to account for inflation.
     (3) A discover pass is valid for one year beginning from the date that the discover pass is marked for activation. The activation date may differ from the purchase date pursuant to any policies developed by the agencies.
     (4) Sales of discover passes must be consistent with RCW 79A.80.100.
     (5) The discover pass must contain space for two motor vehicle license plate numbers. A discover pass is valid only for those vehicle license plate numbers written on the pass. However, the agencies may offer for sale a family discover pass that is fully transferable among vehicles and does not require the placement of a license plate number on the pass to be valid. The agencies must collectively set a price for the sale of a family discover pass that is no more than fifty dollars. A discover pass is valid only for use with one motor vehicle at any one time.
     (6) One complimentary discover pass must be provided to a volunteer who performed twenty-four hours of service on agency-sanctioned volunteer projects in a year. The agency must provide vouchers to volunteers identifying the number of volunteer hours they have provided for each project. The vouchers may be brought to an agency to be redeemed for a discover pass.

Sec. 2   RCW 79A.80.080 and 2012 c 261 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A discover pass, vehicle access pass, or day-use permit must be visibly displayed in the front windshield, or otherwise in a prominent location for motor vehicles without a windshield, of any motor vehicle ((or otherwise in a prominent location for vehicles without a windshield)):
     (a) Operating on ((a)) any recreation site or lands; or
     (b) Parking at ((a)) any recreation site or lands.
     (2) The discover pass, the vehicle access pass, or the day-use permit is not required:
     (a) On private lands, state-owned aquatic lands other than water access areas, or at agency offices, hatcheries, or other facilities where public business is conducted((.
     (3) The discover pass, the vehicle access pass, or the day-use permit is not required for:
     (a)));
     (b) For persons who use, possess, or enter lands owned or managed by the agencies for nonrecreational purposes consistent with a written authorization from the agency, including but not limited to leases, contracts, and easements; ((or
     (b))) (c) On department of fish and wildlife lands only, for persons possessing a current vehicle access pass pursuant to RCW 79A.80.040; or
     (d) When operating on an agency managed road, including a forest or land management road, that is not blocked by a gate.
     (4)(a) An agency may waive the requirements of this section for any person who has secured the ability to access specific recreational land through the provision of monetary consideration to the agency or for any person attending an event or function that required the provision of monetary compensation to the agency.
     (b) Special events and group activities are core recreational activities and major public service opportunities within state parks. When waiving the requirements of this section for special events, the state parks and recreation commission must consider the direct and indirect costs and benefits to the state, local market rental rates, the public service functions of the event sponsor, and other public interest factors when setting appropriate fees for each event or activity.
     (5) Failure to comply with subsection (1) of this section is a natural resource infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. An agency is authorized to issue a notice of infraction to any person who fails to comply with subsection (1)(a) of this section or to any motor vehicle that fails to comply with subsection (1)(b) of this section.
     (6) The penalty for failure to comply with the requirements of this section is ninety-nine dollars. This penalty must be reduced to fifty-nine dollars if an individual provides proof of purchase of a discover pass to the court within fifteen days after the issuance of the notice of violation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 79A.80 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The cost of a discover pass is twenty dollars when purchased during the same transaction as the purchase of one or more of the following:
     (a) A big game hunting license issued under RCW 77.32.450;
     (b) A small game hunting license issued under RCW 77.32.460;
     (c) A western Washington pheasant permit issued under RCW 77.32.575;
     (d) A trapping license issued under RCW 77.65.450;
     (e) A watchable wildlife decal issued under RCW 77.32.560; or
     (f) A combination, saltwater, or freshwater personal use fishing license issued under RCW 77.32.470.
     (2) Only one discounted discover pass may be issued per transaction. Additional discover passes, as well as discover passes and day-use permits sold to an individual purchasing an item other than those identified in subsection (1) of this section, may be purchased for the amount established under RCW 79A.80.020.
     (3) The fees collected for discover passes purchased under this section must be deposited in the recreation access pass account created under RCW 79A.80.090.