S-0623.1                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 5051

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senator Haugen

Read first time 01/11/93.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Directing the departments of fisheries and wildlife to study their enforcement procedures.

          AN ACT Relating to fish and wildlife enforcement; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that protection of the state's fish and wildlife resource is in transition.  As the state's population increases, preservation of the state's fish and wildlife resources will require a greater emphasis on enforcement and regulations designed to preserve the resource and allow recreational opportunities.

          The legislature further finds there is a growing need for investigative capability and technical sophistication in prosecuting fish and wildlife resource violations.  The legislature desires to provide better coordination and use of enforcement personnel, to eliminate duplication between the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife, and to provide more enforcement presence in the field.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The legislature directs the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife to prepare a study and report to the legislature.  The study shall include, but not be limited to:

          (1) Developing ways for the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife to achieve better coordination of existing enforcement personnel;

          (2) Developing ways to better coordinate use of enforcement vessels, planes, and motor vehicles between existing enforcement staff;

          (3) Providing a recommendation as to whether the enforcement programs of the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife should be combined into a single program, and if so, recommend where the program should be headquartered; and

          (4) Identifying the costs, if any, of combining the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife enforcement programs.

          The study shall be completed and provided to the appropriate legislative committees no later than November 30, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The directors of the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife shall appoint an advisory group to help prepare the report listed in section 2 of this act.  The advisory group shall consist of:

          (1) One person each from the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife enforcement administrative staff;

          (2) One person each from the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife enforcement bargaining units;

          (3) Two constituents appointed by the director of the department of fisheries;

          (4) Two constituents appointed by the director of the department of wildlife; and

          (5) One person each from the four legislative caucuses, as selected by the leader of each caucus.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993.

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