Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Natural Resources Committee

SSB 5961

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 Summary of Substitute Bill

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

Hearing Date:  3/19/01

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 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  Unnecessary or redundant language is repealed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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