SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5237

BYSenators Owen, Metcalf, Benitz and Rasmussen

Providing for a hound stamp.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 23, 1989

Senate Staff:Vic Moon (786-7469)

AS OF JANUARY 19, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The state of Washington and the United States government both have stamps which are sold to hunters and fishermen in order to raise funds for protection of hunting and fishing habitat and to provide wildlife and fish research.  In addition, the artwork used on these stamps is often printed, autographed and sold at art markets and brings money into the state or federal program.

SUMMARY:

The intent of the Legislature is to provide a means for nonconsumptive users of wildlife that are traditionally hunted with hounds to assist in generating revenues for projects to study and benefit those wildlife species.  The Legislature recognizes that nonconsumptive users are an increasing share of the people enjoying wildlife and that these nonconsumptive users have not been a source of revenue for the purposes of study in proportion to the share of their use.  Sales and prints of art work have been an effective means in generating revenue from nonconsumptive users.

There is created a hound stamp which is a stamp required by law to be in possession of persons hunting wild animals with a dog.  A hound stamp committee is created consisting of nine members.  The committee will consist of one member appointed by the Governor, five members appointed by the director of the Department of Wildlife, one member appointed by the chairman of the State Arts Commission, one member appointed by the director of the Department of Agriculture, and one member appointed by the commissioner of Public Lands.  The member appointed by the director of the Department of Agriculture will represent statewide farming interests, the member appointed by the commissioner of Public Lands shall represent statewide timber interests, the member appointed by the chairman of the Arts Commission shall be knowledgeable in the area of fine art reproduction.  All members shall be knowledgeable about appropriate wildlife species and management.  The five persons appointed by the director of the Department of Wildlife shall be selected as follows:  a houndsman who hunts primarily in eastern Washington; a houndsman who hunts primarily in western Washington; a person with a major interest in conservation propagation; a wildlife artist or arts organization person; and a statewide hound organization person.

The members of the committee will serve three year staggered terms and will serve until their term is completed or until qualified successors are appointed.  Staggered terms are provided.  The chairman of the committee will be selected by the committee and the members of the committee will serve without compensation.

The hound stamp committee is responsible for the selection of the annual hound stamp design.  The committee creates collector art prints and handles administration, sale and distribution of the prints and stamps.  Total amount brought in from the sale of prints and related artwork is deposited in the state wildlife fund.  The cost of producing and marketing prints and related artwork including administrative expenses are paid out of the total amount brought in to the wildlife fund from the sale of the items.  Net funds derived from the sale of prints and artwork shall be used by the director in the same manner as the revenue derived from the sale of stamps by the department.  The revenue derived from the sale of the stamps is used for the cost of printing and production of the stamps and for projects specified by the director which would benefit wildlife species traditionally hunted with hounds.  Projects can include population studies, relocation programs, habitat acquisition, and such projects will be developed and implemented only after consultation with the hound stamp committee.  Excess stamps may be sold by the hound stamp committee to the public.

The committee has the authority to review the director of Wildlife's expenditures and shall have an annual audit of its finances conducted by the State Auditor.  Copies of the review of the director's expenditures and the annual audit are furnished to the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Appointments shall be made to the hound stamp committee before July 1, 1989 for original terms commencing on July 1, 1989.  The committee shall convene at its first meeting no later than July 15, 1989 and shall provide a hound stamp design for a 1990 hound stamp.

There is appropriated from the Washington State wildlife fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, a sum of $5,000 to be used for the initiation of the program provided by the act.  The appropriation shall be repaid to the state wildlife fund with monies from the sale of art prints and related artwork.

Appropriation:    $5,000

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      requested January 17, 1989