HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1028

BYRepresentatives R. King,  S. Wilson, Haugen, Spanel and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Fisheries

Changing requirements for fishing licenses.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives R. King, Chair; Morris, Vice Chair; S. Wilson, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bowman, Brooks, Cole, Haugen, Smith and Spanel.

House Staff:Robert Butts (786-7841)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE FEBRUARY 16, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Over the years, the Legislature has imposed an assortment of license fees and punchcard requirements on the catch of food fish, game fish, and shellfish by recreational anglers.  Currently, annual licenses or punchcards are required to catch food fish, game fish, steelhead, salmon, sturgeon, razor clams, and Hood Canal shrimp. Two-day and three-day licenses also are available.

Exemptions from the permit requirements have been made for different groups, such as the blind, elderly, developmentally disabled, children, and disabled veterans.  When making the exemptions, no apparent effort was made to ensure that the exemptions were similar for all recreational fishing permits. Also, the fees established for different recreational food fish licenses have varied.

The complexity and inconsistency of the different requirements have made issuing recreational fishing licenses difficult to administer, and sometimes have made it difficult for the public to understand when a license is required.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The age and residency requirements of fishing licenses issued by the Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife are made consistent, as are provisions for the issuance of free licenses to the blind, veterans, developmentally disabled, and the handicapped.

The age requirement for resident children needing fishing licenses is lowered from 15 years old (Department of Wildlife) and 16 years old (Department of Fisheries) to 12 years old, and free licenses are given to residents over 70.

Fees for the seven Department of Fisheries licenses are made consistent at $3 for residents, and $3 and $10 for non-residents. The only exceptions are Hood Canal shrimp licenses, which are $5 for residents and $15 for non-residents.

The taking and possession of smelt is exempted from the personal use license requirement.

The Department of Wildlife's steelhead punchcard requirements for children under 12 are changed.  The current $15 punchcard, which allows 30 steelhead to be caught, is replaced with a $5 punchcard that will allow 5 steelhead to be caught.

The Director of the Department of Fisheries is given the authority to set the fee charged by dealers when licenses are sold.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Age and residency requirements for licenses issued by the Department of Wildlife are amended to make them consistent with the age and residency requirements of the Department of Fisheries' licenses.

The age requirement for resident children needing fishing licenses is lowered to 12 years old.

The current $5 resident and $15 nonresident license fees for Hood Canal shrimp are maintained.

The taking and possession of smelt is exempted from the personal use license requirement.

Steelhead punchcard requirements for children under 12 are changed.

Free Department of Fisheries' licenses are provided for persons who are developmentally disabled, and persons who are physically handicapped and confined to a wheelchair.

The Director of the Department of Fisheries is given the authority to set the fee charged by dealers when licenses are sold.

Revenue:    The bill has a revenue impact.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 17, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries; Phil Anderson, WA Charter Boat Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill will simplify recreational fishing license requirements, which will make it easier for the public to understand when a license is needed, and easier for license dealers when they sell fishing licenses.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.