AN ACT Relating to the hound stamp; amending RCW 77.08.045 and 77.32.350; adding new sections to chapter 77.12 RCW; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature, to provide a means for the nonconsumptive users of wildlife species that are traditionally hunted with hounds, to assist in generating revenues for projects to study and benefit those wildlife species. The legislature finds that:

(1) Nonconsumptive users constitute an increasing share of the users of wildlife;

(2) Nonconsumptive users have not been a source of revenue for purposes of study and benefit of wildlife in proportion to their share of use; and

(3) Sale of prints and artwork has been an effective means of generating revenue from nonconsumptive users.

Sec. 2. Section 2, chapter 243, Laws of 1985 as amended by section 12, chapter 506, Laws of 1987 and RCW 77.08.045 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this title or rules adopted pursuant to this title:

(1) "Migratory waterfowl" means members of the family Anatidae, including brants, ducks, geese, and swans;

(2) "Migratory waterfowl stamp" means the stamp that is required by RCW 77.32.350 to be in the possession of persons over sixteen years of age to hunt migratory waterfowl;

(3) "Hound stamp" means the stamp that is required by RCW 77.32.350 to be in possession of persons hunting wild animals with a dog;

(4) "Prints and artwork" means replicas of the original stamp design that are sold to the general public. Prints and artwork are not to be construed to be the migratory waterfowl stamp or the hound stamp that is required by RCW 77.32.350. Artwork may be any facsimile of the original stamp design, including color renditions, metal duplications, or any other kind of design; and

((~~(4)~~)) (5) "Migratory waterfowl art committee" means the committee created by RCW 77.12.680. The committee's primary function is to select the annual migratory waterfowl stamp design.

(6) "Hound stamp committee" means the committee created by section 5 of this act.

Sec. 3. Section 105, chapter 506, Laws of 1987 and RCW 77.32.350 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A hound stamp is required to hunt wild animals with a dog. The fee for this stamp is ten dollars.

(2) An upland game bird stamp is required to hunt for quail, partridge, and pheasant in areas designated by rule of the commission. The fee for this stamp is eight dollars.

(3) A falconry license is required to possess or hunt with a falcon, including seasons established exclusively for hunting in that manner. The fee for this license is thirty dollars.

(4) To be valid, stamps required under this section shall be permanently affixed to the licensee's appropriate hunting or fishing license.

(5) A migratory waterfowl stamp is required for all persons sixteen years of age or older to hunt migratory waterfowl. The fee for the stamp is five dollars.

(6) The migratory waterfowl stamp ((~~shall be~~)) and the hound stamp are both validated by the signature of the licensee written across the face of the stamp.

(7) Stamps required by this section expire on March 31st following the date of issuance except for hound stamps, which expire December 31st following the date of issuance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

The hound stamp to be produced by the department shall use the design as provided by the hound stamp committee.

All revenue derived from the sale of the stamps by the department shall be deposited in the state wildlife fund and shall be used only for the cost of printing and production of the stamp and for those projects specified by the director of the department for the study and benefit of those wildlife species traditionally hunted with hounds. Those projects may include, but shall not be limited to, population studies, relocation programs, and habitat acquisition, and shall be selected by the director only after consultation with the hound stamp committee.

The department may produce hound stamps in any given year in excess of those necessary for sale in that year. The excess stamps may be sold to the hound stamp committee for sale to the public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

(1) There is created the hound stamp committee which shall be composed of nine members.

(2) (a) The committee shall consist of one member appointed by the governor, five members appointed by the director, 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.

(b) The member appointed by the director of the department of agriculture shall represent state-wide farming interests.

(d) The member appointed by the chairman of the state arts commission shall be knowledgeable in the area of fine art reproduction.

(e) The members appointed by the governor and the director shall be knowledgeable about appropriate wildlife species and wildlife management. The five members appointed by the director shall represent, respectively:

(i) Houndsmen who hunt primarily in eastern Washington;

(ii) Houndsmen who hunt primarily in western Washington;

(iii) Persons with a major interest in the conservation, propagation, or study of wildlife species traditionally hunted with hounds;

(iv) Wildlife artists, arts organizations, and persons interested in the promotion and appreciation of wildlife art; and

(v) A state-wide hound organization.

(3) The members of the committee shall serve three-year staggered terms and at the expiration of their term shall serve until qualified successors are appointed. Of the nine members, three shall serve initial terms of four years, three shall serve initial terms of three years, and three shall serve initial terms of two years. The appointees of the governor, the director of agriculture, and commissioner of public lands shall serve the initial terms of four years. The appointee of the chairman of the state arts commission shall serve an initial term of three years. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms consistent with this section. A chairman shall be elected annually by the committee. Members of the committee shall serve without compensation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

The hound stamp committee is responsible for the selection of the annual hound stamp design and shall provide the design to the department. If the committee does not perform this duty within the time frame necessary to achieve proper and timely distribution of the stamps to license dealers, the director shall initiate the art work selection for that year. The committee shall create collector art prints and related artwork, utilizing the same design as provided to the department. The administration, sale, distribution, and other matters relating to the prints and sales of stamps with prints and related artwork shall be the responsibility of the hound stamp committee.

The total amount brought in from the sale of prints and related artwork shall be deposited in the state wildlife fund. The costs of producing and marketing of prints and related artwork, including administrative expenses mutually agreed upon by the committee and the director, shall be paid out of the total amount brought in from the sale of those same items. Net funds derived from the sale of prints and related artwork shall be used by the director in the same manner as the revenue derived from the sale of the stamps by the department as provided in section 4 of this act.

The committee shall review the director's expenditures of the previous year of both the stamp money and the print and related artwork money. The committee shall have an annual audit of its finances conducted by the state auditor and shall furnish a copy of the audit and of its review of the director's expenditures to the commission and to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Appointments shall be made to the hound stamp committee before July 1, 1989, for original terms commencing on July 1, 1989. The committee member appointed by the governor shall convene the committee no later than July 15, 1989, and the committee shall provide the hound stamp design for the 1990 hound stamp.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. There is appropriated to the hound stamp committee from the state wildlife fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, the sum of five thousand dollars, to be used for the initiation of the program provided for in section 6 of this act. The appropriation shall be repaid to the state wildlife fund with moneys generated from the sale of art prints and related artwork.