Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

HB 1118

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Creating cost savings by providing administrative flexibility to the department of fish and wildlife in its implementation of Title 77 RCW while not directing any changes to resource management outcomes.

Sponsors: Representative Blake.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Changes the nature of many reporting requirements on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) from a set timeline to as requested by the recipient.

  • Consolidates fees and accounts related to the aquatic invasive species.

  • Changes the nature of some requirements of the WDFW from mandatory to permissive.

  • Allows the WDFW to develop a mobile phone application.

  • Clarifies and updates the distinction between migratory bird stamps and migratory bird artwork.

  • Updates outdated citations and references.

Hearing Date: 1/20/15

Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).

Background:

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), under the direction of the Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission), has been delegated the responsibility to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage Washington's wildlife, food fish, game fish, and shellfish (RCW 77.04.012). The primary direction to the WDFW in the pursuit of its mission is codified in Title 77 of the Revised Code of Washington.

Title 77 is organized in 27 different chapters. These chapters address topics such as licenses, enforcement, wildlife damage, construction projects in state waters, salmon recovery, and invasive species.

Summary of Bill:

A series of changes are made to the statutes directing the WDFW. These changes include updating citations and references, creating reporting and account management flexibility, updating references to migratory bird stamps, allowing for the production of a mobile phone application, providing an enforcement tool, and consolidating accounts and fees relating to aquatic invasive species.

Reporting Requirements.

The nature of a number of reports produced by the WDFW is changed. Reports that are required to be produced by the WDFW are no longer mandated. Instead, the reporting requirements apply when the agency is requested by, depending on the report, the Commission, the Legislature, the Office of Financial Management, or a constituency group. The reports affected by the change include the annual fishing industry statistics report, the pheasant activity report, the habitat project list report, and the biennial salmon production cost report.

In addition, the separate but linked reporting regarding salmon recovery by both the WDFW and the Recreation and Conservation Office is merged into one report.

Account and Administration Flexibility.

Specific legislative direction is removed in a few instances. This includes allowing the Commission to appoint members statewide to the advisory committee representing the interests of hunters and fishers with disabilities and allowing the WDFW to spend money generated from the sale of interpretive materials and advertising as it sees best and not necessarily for producing regulation and education materials.

A new account is created called the Aquatic Invasive Species Management Account (AIS Account). The AIS Account replaces the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Account (Prevention Account) and the Aquatic Invasive Species Enforcement Account (Enforcement Account), which are both dissolved. The new AIS Account generally assumes the same functions as the two dissolved accounts. In addition, the fees charged on vessel registration to support aquatic invasive species activities is merged. Instead of $1.50 going to the Prevention Account and 50 cents going to the Enforcement Account, $2 goes to the new AIS Account.

In some instances, a mandated action of the WDFW is changed to a permissive action. This includes allowing the WDFW to disseminate wildlife viewing activities instead of mandating it, changing the direction to field test salmonid remote site incubators from a mandate to an option, and providing the WDFW with flexibility around volunteer cooperative projects.

Mobile Phone Applications.

The WDFW is authorized to develop a mobile phone application that provides the user with content such as licensing information, harvest recording and reporting, and access to regulations and information. The authority to develop an application is permissive. If the WDFW chooses to develop an application then the agency may charge a fee for accessing the application.

Migratory Bird Stamps.

A distinction is provided between a migratory bird permit, which allows one to hunt migratory birds, and a piece of migratory bird artwork sold by the WDFW. An existing distinction between the sales of permits for waterfowl and non-waterfowl migratory birds, and how the funds generated from those sales may be spent, is dissolved.

Enforcement Update.

The term "shellfish" is added to the category of species types that qualify for prosecution under the crime of Unlawful Trafficking in Fish, Shellfish, or Wildlife in the second degree.

Outdated Citations and References.

A series of changes are made to Title 77 that updates citations contained within statutes that have been amended since their initial enactment. There are also updates to the names of science programs used by the WDFW, such as the salmon stock inventory, and the deletion of agency programs and task forces that no longer exist (such as the Division of Purchasing and the Forum on Monitoring Salmon Recovery and Watershed Health).

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.