HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1199
As Reported by House Committee On:
Natural Resources
Title: An act relating to the display of fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permits.
Brief Description: Altering the format of a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit.
Sponsors: Representatives Schindler, Mielke, Sump, G. Chandler, McMorris and Armstrong.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Natural Resources: 2/7/01, 2/16/01 [DP].
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Brief Summary of Bill
$Eliminates requirement that the Department of Fish and Wildlife vehicle lands use permit be issued in the form of a permanently affixed decal and specifies that the permit be issued in a form that allows for it to be temporarily displayed from the interior of a vehicle.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Doumit, Democratic Co‑Chair; Sump, Republican Co‑Chair; Pearson, Republican Vice Chair; Rockefeller, Democratic Vice Chair; Buck, G. Chandler, Edwards, Eickmeyer, Ericksen, Murray and Pennington.
Staff: Jason Callahan (786‑7117).
Background:
The Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) manages over 800,000 acres of wildlife habitat, many of which with improved access areas for parking, and over 600 boating and fishing access sites on Washington=s lakes, rivers, and streams. These lands are open to the public for such activities as hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. Prior to April 1999, a person wishing to use these lands that did not purchase a hunting or fishing license was required to purchase a $10 Conservation License. In 1998 the Legislature eliminated the personally held Conservation License, and replaced it with a vehicle specific lands access permit.
All persons using one of the department=s 249 approved access facilities, such as a parking area, or a boat launch, is required to have a vehicle lands access permit (or ?decal@) displayed on their vehicle. The permit is issued by the department, and is in the form of a permanently affixed decal. The decal must then be displayed in the rear window of the user=s vehicle.
Any person purchasing a hunting, fishing, trapping, or combination license is issued one decal at no additional cost. If a person wishes to access department land without purchasing a hunting, fishing, trapping, or combination license, he or she may purchase a decal from any of the department=s authorized license dealers for the cost of $10. Decals are not transferable between different vehicles. Any person who has received a decal with their sporting license, or has purchased a decal individually, may purchase additional decals at a reduced price for each vehicle they can prove to the department they own. The cost of additional decals is $5 each.
Failure to display the vehicle lands access permit, or decal, while on department-managed land is punishable by a fine of $66 dollars.
Summary of Bill:
The Department of Fish and Wildlife will no longer issue its vehicle lands use permits in the form of a permanently affixed decal. Instead, the permit will be issued in a form allowing it to be temporarily displayed from the interior of a motor vehicle.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Affixing a permanent decal is unfair to those hunters and fishers using a new, leased, or even rented car. If a person buys a new car, the decal cannot be transferred to the new car. External decals are exposed to weather conditions and in the past this has led to decals falling off or fading beyond recognition.
Testimony Against: A temporary or removable decal provides the opportunity for paying users to transfer the decal to someone who has not paid for Department of Fish and Wildlife land access.
Testified: (In support) Bruce Crawford, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Richard Reimann.
(Opposed) Representative Pennington.