HB 1496-S.E - DIGEST
(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/06/13)

Requires the office of the attorney general to create a training module on tribal hunting rights to assist all general authority Washington peace officers with understanding the rights of tribal hunters, the related complexity of enforcing hunting laws, and the recommended course of action that should be taken by a peace officer when an individual presents a tribal identification card.

Requires a fish and wildlife officer, upon presentation of a tribal identification card by a member of a federally recognized tribe, to immediately refer to the contents of the training module on tribal hunting rights and take applicable actions consistent with the contents of the module.

Requires the fish and wildlife commission to adopt, review, and update enforcement policies and guidelines related to tribal hunting rights that are based on the contents of the training module on tribal hunting rights.

Requires fish and wildlife officers to receive at least four hours of training related to the training module on tribal hunting rights and other relevant policies adopted by the commission.

Encourages cooperative management and mutual law enforcement assistance agreements agreed to by tribes and the department of fish and wildlife or local law enforcement agency on open and unclaimed lands where a tribe has a treaty or other federally recognized right to hunt.