BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to feeding wildlife during emergency conditions; amending RCW 77.32.101, 77.32.340, and 67.70.240; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 67.70 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that wintering wildlife should exist under natural conditions supported by suitable habitat. Although artificial feeding may assist in wildlife winter survival, it should not be considered a substitute for lost habitat. The legislature recognizes, however, that it is in the public interest to feed wildlife on an emergency basis, beyond the department of fish and wildlife's regular winter feeding operations, as determined by the director of the department of fish and wildlife.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

The department of fish and wildlife shall develop and implement an emergency winter feeding funding plan. The plan must be designed to raise at least five hundred thousand dollars per year. The department may use a number of mechanisms to raise money to carry out the purposes of this plan. The department shall include at least the following mechanisms: (1) Increased fees; (2) a voluntary contribution when purchasing a hunting or combination hunting and fishing license; and (3) solicitation of donations. All money raised for the purpose of chapter . . ., Laws of 1998 (this act) shall be deposited in the wildlife fund and shall be used only for emergency winter feeding operations and associated costs.

Sec. 3. RCW 77.32.101 and 1997 c 395 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A combination hunting and fishing license allows a resident holder to hunt, and to fish for game fish throughout the state. The fee for this license is twenty-nine dollars. The holder may contribute one additional dollar to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding.

(2) A hunting license allows the holder to hunt throughout the state. The fee for this license is fifteen dollars for residents and one hundred fifty dollars for nonresidents. The holder may contribute one additional dollar to be dedicated to emergency winter feeding.

(3) A fishing license allows the holder to fish for game fish throughout the state. The fee for this license is seventeen dollars for residents fifteen years of age or older and under seventy years of age, three dollars for residents seventy years of age or older, and forty-eight dollars for nonresidents fifteen years of age or older.

The license fee for a nonresident juvenile under fifteen years of age is twenty dollars unless the juvenile is fishing with an adult who holds a current game fish license, in which case there is no license fee.

(4) A steelhead fishing license allows the holder of a combination hunting and fishing license or a fishing license issued under this section to fish for steelhead throughout the state. The fee for this license is eighteen dollars.

(5) A juvenile steelhead license allows residents under fifteen years of age and nonresidents under fifteen years of age who hold a fishing license to fish for steelhead throughout the state. The fee for this license is six dollars and entitles the holder to take up to five steelhead at which time another juvenile steelhead license may be purchased. Any person who purchases a juvenile steelhead license is prohibited from purchasing a steelhead license for the same calendar year.

Sec. 4. RCW 77.32.340 and 1997 c 114 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Fees for transport tags shall be as follows:

(1) The baseline fee for a resident deer tag is eighteen dollars. The baseline fee for a nonresident deer tag is sixty dollars.

(2) The baseline fee for a resident elk tag is twenty-four dollars. The baseline fee for a nonresident elk tag is one hundred twenty dollars.

(3) The fee for a resident and nonresident bear tag shall be established by the commission in an amount not to exceed eighteen dollars and one hundred eighty dollars, respectively. Should the commission choose to make black bear transport tags available at no cost, then the commission may determine that for purposes of achieving species harvest management goals that a transport tag is not required to hunt black bear.

(4) The fee for a resident and nonresident cougar tag shall be established by the commission in an amount not to exceed twenty-four dollars and three hundred sixty dollars, respectively. Should the commission choose to make cougar transport tags available at no cost, then the commission may determine that for purposes of achieving species harvest management goals that a transport tag is not required to hunt cougar.

(5) The fee for a mountain goat tag is sixty dollars for residents and one hundred eighty dollars for nonresidents. The fee shall be paid at the time of application. Applicants who are not selected for a mountain goat special season permit shall receive a refund of this fee, less five dollars.

(6) The fee for a sheep tag is ninety dollars for residents and three hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents and shall be paid at the time of application. Applicants who are not selected for a sheep special season permit shall receive a refund of this fee, less five dollars.

(7) The fee for a moose tag is one hundred eighty dollars for residents and three hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents and shall be paid at the time of application. Applicants who are not selected for a moose special season permit shall receive a refund of this fee, less five dollars.

(8) The fee for a wild turkey tag is eighteen dollars for residents and sixty dollars for nonresidents.

(9) The fee for a lynx tag is twenty-four dollars for residents and three hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents and shall be paid at the time of application. Applicants who are not selected for a lynx special season permit shall receive a refund of this fee, less five dollars.

(10) The department may charge a one dollar additional fee above the baseline fee to implement section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 67.70 RCW to read as follows:

The state lottery must be utilized to generate at least fifty percent of the five hundred thousand dollars to be raised under chapter . . ., Laws of 1998 (this act). The lottery commission shall conduct at least two, but not more than four, scratch games with fish and wildlife themes per year. These games are intended to generate additional moneys for deposit in the wildlife fund for dedication to the emergency winter feeding of wildlife. At such time as the amount in the state's wildlife fund for emergency winter feeding equals one and one-half million dollars, the lottery commission shall discontinue the scratch games until the amount drops below one and one-half million dollars. Thereafter the lottery commission shall conduct up to four scratch games with wildlife themes per year to help maintain the balance in the wildlife fund for the purpose of funding the emergency winter feeding of wildlife at one and one-half million dollars.

Sec. 6. RCW 67.70.240 and 1997 c 220 s 206 (Referendum Bill No. 48) are each amended to read as follows:

The moneys in the state lottery account shall be used only:

(1) For the payment of prizes to the holders of winning lottery tickets or shares;

(2) For purposes of making deposits into the reserve account created by RCW 67.70.250 and into the lottery administrative account created by RCW 67.70.260;

(3) For purposes of making deposits into the state's general fund;

(4) For distribution to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs. Three million dollars shall be distributed under this subsection during calendar year 1996. During subsequent years, such distributions shall equal the prior year's distributions increased by four percent. Distributions under this subsection shall cease when the bonds issued for the construction of the baseball stadium are retired, but not more than twenty years after the tax under RCW 82.14.0485 is first imposed;

(5) For distribution to the stadium and exhibition center account, created in RCW 43.99N.060. Subject to the conditions of RCW 43.99N.070, six million dollars shall be distributed under this subsection during the calendar year 1998. During subsequent years, such distribution shall equal the prior year's distributions increased by four percent. No distribution may be made under this subsection after December 31, 1999, unless the conditions for issuance of the bonds under RCW 43.99N.020(2) are met. Distributions under this subsection shall cease when the bonds are retired, but not later than December 31, 2020;

(6) For the purchase and promotion of lottery games and game-related services; ((~~and~~))

(7) For the payment of agent compensation; and

(8) For purposes of making deposits into the state's wildlife fund for dedication to the emergency winter wildlife feeding program.

The office of financial management shall require the allotment of all expenses paid from the account and shall report to the ways and means committees of the senate and house of representatives any changes in the allotments.