SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6486

BYSenate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Owen, Metcalf and Warnke)

Creating the Washington state firearm range committee.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 25, 1988; January 26, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6486 be substitute therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; Barr, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Kreidler, Owen, Patterson.

Senate Staff:Vic Moon (786-7469)

                  March 4, 1988

House Committe on Natural Resources

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 12, 1988

BACKGROUND:

There is increasing interest in creating a facility for archery, target practice, skeet, trap and shotgun sports, dog training, black powder shooting, and related historical heritage activities.  Existing facilities in the state are not adequate to meet the growing interests in these programs.  The pressures of urban growth have gradually reduced the number of sites available for this type of recreational activity.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature recognizes the interest in archery, law enforcement training, target practice, skeet, trap and shotgun sports, dog training, and black powder shooting sports.  Facilities are inadequate to meet the growing demand.  The pressures of urban growth have limited the number of sites available for these types of events.  The Legislature finds that the acquisition and development of an accessible state facility of international quality will promote competition and tourism and provide additional recreational opportunities.

The Washington State Firearm Committee is created.  The committee consists of eight members appointed by the Governor, including one from a local government law enforcement agency; one from a statewide law enforcement agency; one from a statewide group that emphasizes hunting and hunting safety; one from a statewide group that emphasizes target practice and target practice safety; one representative from a skeet, trap, shotgun and dog training sports group; one representative of a group involved with black powder shooting sports and related historical heritage events; one representative from an archery and archery safety group; one representative of the general public.  There are four nonvoting ex officio members, one from each caucus of the Senate and House of Representatives, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The members of the committee shall select one of their own members as chair.  Members shall not receive compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses.

The State Firearm Range Committee shall have the following powers and duties:  Assess local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement needs; assess sporting needs; survey the existing public and private firearm facilities to assess excess demand; review similar facilities in other states and countries; develop a proposed public and private use and cost ratio and a program of phased development; cooperate with the Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies to identify state lands that may be used for a facility; investigate state and private liability issues and prepare proposals on insurance needs; analyze the appropriate state role in facility planning, development and use; and investigate and prepare recommendations on private and public funding sources, including private donations and grants, and city, county and state funding.

The committee shall assess needs of all areas in the state and select a central site and possible satellite sites.  The committee will assess the existing hunter education program and review the use of all funds under the Federal Aid and Wildlife Restoration Act.  The Wildlife Department, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Trade and Economic Development, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the House and Senate shall provide support staff for the committee.  The committee may apply for and use private and public grant moneys.  The committee will prepare a report and submit it to the Legislature by January 1, 1990.  The committee will terminate February 1, 1990.

There is imposed a temporary surcharge on all hunting licenses and hunting tags.  The surcharge on hunting licenses shall be 50 cents per license and the surcharge on hunting tags shall be 25 cents each. The revenues are placed in a firearm range construction account of the state game fund.  The temporary surcharge will expire December 1, 1991.  A firearm range account is created in the state game fund and the moneys in the account shall be subject to legislative appropriation and shall be used for land, construction and development of firearm ranges. A $3 increase is made in the concealed weapon permit.  The funds from the temporary surcharge and from the concealed weapon permit increase will be deposited in a firearm range account of the wildlife fund to be used, after legislative appropriation, for land, development, construction and operation of firearm, sporting training and practice facilities. There is an appropriation of $10,000 from the general fund to the Firearm Range Committee to carry out the purposes of the act.

Appropriation:    $10,000 from the state general fund

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      available

Appointments by Legislature Required:     One person from each caucus appointed by the President of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The House striking amendment is the Senate bill with three changes:  (1) The $10,000 general fund appropriation is removed; (2) there will be a study of hunting license and tax surcharges rather than the .50 and .25 surcharge in the Senate bill; and (3) technical changes are made to the provisions establishing the concealed weapon permit fees.