HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 1119

  Title:Fish and Wildlife Commission

Brief Description:Modifying the composition of the Fish and Wildlife Commission to allow for representation by administrative regions.

Sponsors:Representatives Pennington, Hatfield, Mielke, Doumit and Eickmeyer

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Meeting Date:January 26, 1999

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Josh Weiss, Counsel (786-7129)

Background:  The Fish and Wildlife Commission is composed of nine registered voters who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.  Three members of the commission must be from eastern Washington and three must be from western Washington, while the remaining three are appointed at-large.  In order to facilitate staggered terms, the three at-large members were appointed for varying terms at different dates.

Currently, the Washington Administrative Code requires that the Department of Game establish six administrative regions.  In 1996 the Department of Game and the Department of Fisheries were merged into the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife currently utilizes six administrative regions, though they do not fully correlate to those found in the code.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife is required to adopt six administrative regions by rule. 

The commission is composed of six members who are appointed from one of each administrative region.  In order to be appointed as a representative of a region, a person much be a resident of the region.  Three members are appointed at-large.  All members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.  In order to facilitate staggered terms, the Governor is required to appoint new commissioners from administrative regions as existing members= terms expire.

House Bill 1119                                                    Page One

Appropriation:None.

Fiscal Note:Not requested.

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

  Rulemaking Authority:Fish and Wildlife Commission

House Bill 1119                                                    Page Two