S-4070

AN ACT Relating to migratory bird stamps; and amending RCW 77.32.350 and 77.12.670.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 77.32.350 and 2000 c 107 s 270 are each amended to read as follows:

In addition to a small game hunting license, a supplemental permit or stamp is required to hunt for western Washington pheasant or migratory birds.

(1) A western Washington pheasant permit is required to hunt for pheasant in western Washington. Western Washington pheasant permits must contain numbered spaces for recording the location and date of harvest of each western Washington pheasant.

(2) The permit shall be available as a season option, a youth full season option, or a three-day option. The fee for this permit is:

(a) For the resident and nonresident full season option, thirty-six dollars;

(b) For the youth full season option, eighteen dollars;

(3) ((A migratory bird stamp affixed to a hunting license designated by rule of the commission is required for all persons sixteen years of age or older to hunt migratory birds. The fee for the stamp for hunters is six dollars for residents and nonresidents. The fee for the stamp for collectors is six dollars.

~~(4) The migratory bird stamp shall be validated by the signature of the licensee written across the face of the stamp~~)) A migratory bird validation is required for all persons sixteen years of age or older to hunt migratory birds. The fee for the validation for hunters is ten dollars for residents and nonresidents. The fee for the stamp for collectors is ten dollars.

(4) The migratory bird license must be validated at the time of signature of the licensee.

Sec. 2. RCW 77.12.670 and 1998 c 191 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The migratory bird stamp to be produced by the department shall use the design as provided by the migratory waterfowl art committee.

(2) All revenue derived from the sale of the stamps by the department to any person hunting waterfowl or to any stamp collector shall be deposited in the state wildlife fund and shall be used only for that portion of the cost of printing and production of the stamps for migratory waterfowl hunters as determined by subsection (4) of this section, and for those migratory waterfowl projects specified by the director of the department for the acquisition and development of migratory waterfowl habitat in the state and for the enhancement, protection, and propagation of migratory waterfowl in the state. Migratory bird stamp funds may not be used on lands controlled by private hunting clubs or on lands that charge a fee for public access. Migratory bird stamp funds may be used for migratory waterfowl projects on private land where public hunting is provided by written permission or on areas established by the department as waterfowl hunting closures.

(3) All revenue derived from the sale of the stamp by the department to persons hunting solely nonwaterfowl migratory birds shall be deposited in the state wildlife fund and shall be used only for that portion of the cost of printing and production of the stamps for nonwaterfowl migratory bird hunters as determined by subsection (4) of this section, and for those nonwaterfowl migratory bird projects specified by the director for the acquisition and development of nonwaterfowl migratory bird habitat in the state and for the enhancement, protection, and propagation of nonwaterfowl migratory birds in the state.

(4) With regard to the revenue from stamp sales that is not the result of sales to stamp collectors, the department shall determine the proportion of migratory waterfowl hunters and solely nonwaterfowl migratory bird hunters by using the yearly migratory bird hunter harvest information program survey results or, in the event that these results are not available, other similar survey results. A two-year average of the most recent survey results shall be used to determine the proportion of the revenue attributed to migratory waterfowl hunters and the proportion attributed to solely nonwaterfowl migratory bird hunters for each fiscal year. For fiscal year 1998-99 and for fiscal year 1999-2000, ninety-six percent of the stamp revenue shall be attributed to migratory waterfowl hunters and four percent of the stamp revenue shall be attributed to solely nonwaterfowl migratory game hunters.

(5) Acquisition shall include but not be limited to the acceptance of gifts of real estate or any interest therein or the rental, lease, or purchase of real estate or any interest therein. If the department acquires any fee interest, leasehold, or rental interest in real property under this section, it shall allow the general public reasonable access to that property and shall, if appropriate, ((~~insure~~)) ensure that the deed or other instrument creating the interest allows such access to the general public. If the department obtains a covenant in real property in its favor or an easement or any other interest in real property under this section, it shall exercise its best efforts to ((~~insure~~)) ensure that the deed or other instrument creating the interest grants to the general public in the form of a covenant running with the land reasonable access to the property. The private landowner from whom the department obtains such a covenant or easement shall retain the right of granting access to the lands by written permission, but may not charge a fee for access.

(6) The department may produce migratory bird stamps in any given year in excess of those necessary for sale in that year. The excess stamps may be sold to the migratory waterfowl art committee for sale to the public.