HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2293

BYRepresentatives 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 licensed 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 REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE JANUARY 11, 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:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Patients 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.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The requirement that the care facility be licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services is deleted and replaced with a requirement that the facility be "state-licensed or state-operated."  The Department of Wildlife's statute pertaining to group fishing permits is amended to make it consistent.

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.