HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5125

                       As Passed House

                        April 5, 1993

Title:  An act relating to commercial salmon fishing licenses.

Brief Description:  Regulating issuance of commercial salmon fishing licenses.

Sponsors:  Senators Owen, Snyder, Haugen, Spanel, Sellar, Oke, Amondson and Erwin; by request of Department of Fisheries.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Fisheries & Wildlife, March 18, 1993, DP;

Passed House, April 5, 1993, 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives King, Chair; Orr, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Sehlin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Chappell; Foreman; Lemmon; and Scott.

Staff:  Keitlyn Watson (786-7310).

Background:  Current law allows for renewal of a commercial salmon fishing license or salmon delivery permit if a vessel meets two requirements:  1) held such a license or permit the previous year; and 2) landed one or more food fish the previous year.

Summary of Bill:  The landing requirement is deleted.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  For fishers and for the Department of Fisheries, the food fish landing requirement is a burden and an economic drain which provides no benefit.  The bill saves money.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Cyreis Schmitt, Department of Fisheries (pro).