S-1628.3  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5081

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen and Rasmussen)

READ FIRST TIME 02/21/01.

Requiring a permit from the department of fish and wildlife to operate a facility that cares for or rehabilitates wild animals.

    AN ACT Relating to wild animal care facilities; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department may adopt rules to regulate the activities of persons and facilities that care for and rehabilitate injured, diseased, or abandoned wildlife.  Upon adoption of such rules by the department, it is unlawful for any person to possess wildlife for the purpose of rehabilitation without first obtaining a current and valid permit to do so under rules adopted by this section.

    (2) The department must inspect each person or facility permitted under this section at least every three years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The sum of thirty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of fish and wildlife for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, solely for a pilot project that will provide financial support in the form of grants to persons or facilities permitted under section 1 of this act for the rehabilitation of native wildlife species.

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