S-2781               _______________________________________________

                                   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8417

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senator Metcalf

Read first time 4/21/89 and referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.

WHEREAS, The legislature finds that protection of the state's natural resources is in transition, and that as the state's population increases, preservation of the state's natural resources will require a greater emphasis on enforcement of laws and rules designed to preserve the resource and allow recreational opportunities; and

          WHEREAS, The legislature further finds that there is a growing need to increase investigative capability and technical sophistication in prosecuting natural resource violations, to provide better coordination of enforcement and use of enforcement personnel, to eliminate duplication between the department of fisheries, the department of wildlife, and other agencies with natural resources enforcement responsibilities, and to provide more enforcement presence in the field;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on natural resource enforcement be established, to consist of eight members, two from each caucus of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; and two from each caucus of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall report to the legislature before the 1990 legislative session on the following:

          (1) Structural changes, including but not limited to consideration of a separate office of natural resources enforcement, that would provide better coordination and more efficient use of resources;

          (2) Policy changes necessary to achieve coordination and efficiency, including those related to personnel;

          (3) Whether the following duties and responsibilities would be better managed by a separate office of natural resources enforcement:

          (a)  Enforcing compliance of hydraulic permits issued by the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife;

          (b)  Coordinating the location of enforcement agents;

          (c)  Enforcing and administering both criminal and civil penalties;

          (4) Whether the adoption of consistent licensing requirements, consistent regulations and consistent penalties for the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife will enhance enforcement;

          (5) The need for additional enforcement personnel;

          (6) Other considerations affecting the achievement of better coordination and more efficient use of resources for natural resource enforcement; and

          (7) Methods of providing more opportunity for citizen involvement in educational and other efforts designed to assist enforcement personnel and enforcement efforts; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall establish an advisory group of all interested parties and have access to and the assistance of legislative staff and employees of state agencies as necessary to perform the study and develop recommendations.  A special effort shall be made to involve enforcement personnel currently working in the field, landowners, and sportsmen interests.