HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2293

BYHouse Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife (originally sponsored by Representatives R. King, Bowman, Sayan, Morris, Brumsickle, Basich, Brooks, Spanel, Smith, Day, Leonard, D. Sommers, Youngsman, Cole, P. King and Wood; by request of Department of Fisheries)

Authorizing the department of fisheries to issue group fishing permits to state-licensed or state-operated care facilities.

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 PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 29, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In the past, Western State Hospital and other facilities that care for the aged, handicapped, and mentally ill have requested that the Department of Fisheries issue a group fishing permit that would allow the patients of the facility to fish for food fish in supervised groups without individual licenses.

Under current law, the Department of Wildlife is allowed to issue a group license to these facilities for game fish.  However, no similar provision exists for food fish and shellfish, which are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries.

SUMMARY:

Physically or mentally handicapped persons, hospital patients, mentally ill persons, and senior citizens who are under the care of a state-operated or licensed care facility may fish for food fish and shellfish without individual licenses if the fishing is occasional, if they are fishing in a supervised group, and if the care facility holds a permit issued by the director of Fisheries.

The Department of Wildlife's statute pertaining to group permits is amended to make it consistent with the Department of Fisheries' statute.

Fiscal Note:      No Impact.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Loren Stern, Department of Fisheries; John Reynolds, Western State Hospital.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill would have a desirable effect by allowing individuals in institutions to occasionally go fishing without having to buy individual licenses.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.