HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5961

As Reported by House Committee On:

Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to making technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes.

Brief Description:  Modifying provisions concerning fisheries and wildlife issues.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen and Oke; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  3/19/01, 3/28/01 [DPA].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

(As Amended by House Committee)

$Technical amendments are made to the fish and wildlife statutes to make terminology uniform, correct cross-references, and eliminate obsolete language.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 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, Jackley and Murray.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Pennington.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786‑7092).

Background:

In 1994 the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Game were merged into the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Laws pertaining to food fish were generally contained in Title 75 RCW.  Laws pertaining to game and game fish were generally contained in Title 77 RCW.  These two titles were merged into Title 77 in the 2000 legislative session.

The merger of the two titles contained some oversights and errors.  The provisions of Title 75 and the provisions of Title 77 evolved from different regulatory systems, and the statutes were worded differently although similar in effect.  Other provisions of the current code may be confusing or obsolete.

Summary of  Amended Bill:

Technical amendments are made to fish and wildlife statutes to make terminology uniform, correct cross-references, and add terms where necessary to effectively merge the two titles and two systems of regulation together.  Unnecessary or redundant language is repealed.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:

A section is deleted which pertained to personal use saltwater, freshwater, combination, temporary, and family fishing licenses because the proposed changes were redundant.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill was worked with county prosecutors, the Attorney General=s Office, and House and Senate staff during the interim, and was also reviewed by interest groups.  The bill corrects statutory references, eliminates obsolete terms, standardizes terminology, and makes sure that the two RCW titles that were combined in the merger bill last year mesh together better.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Evan Jacoby and Bruce Bjork, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.