FINAL BILL REPORT

ESHB 1351

C 78 L 16

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning license fees for national guard members under Title 77 RCW.

Sponsors: House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Blake, Harris, DeBolt and Stanford).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

House Committee on General Government & Information Technology

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Background:

Introduction to Fishing and Hunting Licenses.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is responsible for issuing hunting and fishing licenses at fees that are set in statute for each license type. These fees generally are a set amount for an adult state resident, an elevated rate for a non-state resident, and a reduced rate for a youth participant. Reduced rate licenses are also available to individuals with certain disabilities and certain veterans.

Reduced Rate Licenses.

Residents. To qualify for a reduced rate license (the fee set for a youth license), a Washington resident must satisfy one of the following criteria:

• be an honorably discharged veteran who is at least 65 years old and who has a service-related disability of any kind;

• be an honorably discharged veteran of any age who has a 30 percent or greater service-related disability; or

• have, regardless of military service, a developmental disability, or a disability that results in the permanent use of a wheelchair, blindness, or another visual impairment.

Non-Residents. To qualify for a reduced rate license (the fee set for a resident license), a non-Washington resident must be an honorably discharged veteran who is either 65 years old with a service-related disability or who has a 30 percent or greater service-related disability of any kind. Additionally, active duty military personnel serving in any branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for a combination fishing license at the fee set for a resident license.

Types of Licenses.

Various licenses, permits, and tags are required to fish or hunt for specific types of fish and wildlife and at specific times of the year. The following are types of recreational fishing and hunting licenses that the WDFW issues:

• small game hunting license;

• supplemental migratory bird permit;

• big game hunting license;

• special hunting season permit (fee to enter drawing to receive a permit);

• disabled hunter permit;

• primary turkey tag and additional turkey tags;

• western Washington pheasant permit;

• personal use fishing license (freshwater, saltwater, or combination license);

• group fishing permit;

• shellfish and seaweed license;

• razor clam license; and

• scientific permit.

Summary:

Upon written application and verification by the WDFW, the following recreational hunting licenses must be issued at no cost to a resident member of the Washington State Guard or National Guard, as long as the Washington State Guard or National Guard member is an active full-time Washington State Guard or National Guard employee or is required to participate in drill training on a part-time basis:

• a small game hunting license;

• a supplemental migratory bird permit; and

• a big game hunting license.

Votes on Final Passage: