AN
ACT Relating to feeding wildlife during episodes of severe winter weather;
amending RCW 77.32.101, 77.32.256, 77.32.340, 77.32.370, and 77.32.380;
creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature recognizes that, during severe winter weather conditions, big game
herds of deer and elk living on limited winter ranges are at risk of starvation
and may be driven to forage on private property, damaging crops and other
vegetation. It is, therefore, in the public interest to feed deer and elk on
an emergency basis when such conditions occur.
Further,
the legislature finds that the state must find a long-term solution to the
serious problem of emergency winter feeding of wildlife. The legislature also
finds that crafting a true solution must involve input from hunters, affected
landowners, local governments, wildlife supporters, and other interested
parties and must be implemented in a timely fashion before the next emergency
occurs.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. (1)
The legislature directs the department of fish and wildlife to work with
hunters and other interested parties to develop and implement an emergency
winter feeding funding plan for the winter of 1997-98. The plan shall raise at
least one million dollars. The department may use a number of mechanisms to
raise money for the purposes of emergency winter feeding. The department shall
include at least the following mechanisms: (a) Increased fees; (b) the sale of
surplus property; and (c) solicitation of donations. Of the moneys raised for
emergency winter feeding, fees may not constitute more than fifty percent of
the total raised. All moneys raised for the purpose of this act must be
deposited in the wildlife fund and must only be used for that purpose. The
funding plan for the winter of 1997-98 expires on July 1, 1998, unless
continuation of the plan for future emergency winter feeding is approved by the
legislature. The department shall provide a copy of the emergency winter
feeding funding plan to the appropriate committees of the legislature by
November 1, 1997.
(2)
The legislature directs the department of fish and wildlife to work with
hunters and other interested parties to develop a long-run strategy for funding
emergency winter feeding. As part of this long-run strategy, the department
may review the possibility of the use of a lottery with sale proceeds dedicated
to emergency winter feeding.
Sec.
3. RCW
77.32.101 and 1994 c 255 s 11 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 baseline fee for this
license is twenty-nine dollars.
(2)
A hunting license allows the holder to hunt throughout the state. The baseline
fee for this license is fifteen dollars for residents and one hundred fifty
dollars for nonresidents.
(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, twenty dollars for nonresidents under fifteen
years of age, and forty-eight dollars for nonresidents fifteen years of age or
older.
(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.
(6)
Until December 31, 1998, the department may charge an additional fee above the
baseline fee to implement section 2 of this act.
Sec.
4. RCW
77.32.256 and 1995 c 116 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
The
director shall by rule establish the conditions for issuance of duplicate
licenses, rebates, permits, tags, and stamps required by this chapter. The baseline
fee for a duplicate provided under this section is ten dollars for those
licenses that are ten dollars and over, and for those licenses under ten
dollars the baseline duplicate fee is the value of the license. Until
December 31, 1998, the department may charge an additional fee above the
baseline fee to implement section 2 of this act.
Sec.
5. RCW
77.32.340 and 1991 sp.s. c 7 s 8 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 bear tag is eighteen dollars. The fee for a nonresident
bear tag is one hundred eighty dollars.
(4)
The fee for a resident cougar tag is twenty-four dollars. The fee for a
nonresident cougar tag is three hundred sixty dollars.
(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)
Until December 31, 1998, the department may charge an additional fee above the
baseline fee to implement section 2 of this act.
Sec.
6. RCW
77.32.370 and 1991 sp.s. c 7 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
A special hunting season permit is required to hunt in each special season
established under chapter 77.12 RCW.
(2)
Persons may apply for special hunting season permits as provided by rule of the
director.
(3)
The baseline application fee to participate in a special hunting season
is three dollars. Until December 31, 1998, the department may charge an
additional fee above the baseline fee to implement section 2 of this act.
Sec.
7. RCW
77.32.380 and 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 77 are each amended to read as follows:
Persons
sixteen years of age or older who use clearly identified department lands and
access facilities are required to possess a conservation license or a hunting,
fishing, trapping, or free license on their person while using the facilities.
The fee for this license is ten dollars annually. Until December 31, 1998,
the department may charge an additional fee above the baseline fee to implement
section 2 of this act.
The
spouse, all children under eighteen years of age, and guests under eighteen
years of age of the holder of a valid conservation license may use department
lands and access facilities when accompanied by the license holder.
Youth
groups may use department lands and game access facilities without possessing a
conservation license when accompanied by a license holder.
The
conservation license is nontransferable and must be validated by the signature
of the holder. Upon request of a wildlife agent or ex officio wildlife agent a
person using clearly identified department lands shall exhibit the required
license.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. 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 takes effect immediately.
