Brief Description: Regarding hunting and fishing license fees for a person with a disability.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Kretz, Blake, Upthegrove, Ormsby, O'Brien, Morrell, Conway, Haigh, Moeller, McCune and Simpson; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation

Background:

Persons With Disabilities and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) offers reduced license fees and additional hunting opportunities to persons with a disability. For instance, the Department offers special permits to hunters with a disability and permits hunters with a disability to hunt in manners unlawful for a person without a disability.

A reduced rate of $5 for a fishing license is available to persons with developmental disabilities, people who are blind, and honorably discharged armed services veterans with a disability arising from military service. Reduced rate hunting licenses are available only to honorably discharged armed forces veterans with a service-related disability.

For the Department's purposes, a person is considered disabled if he or she has a permanent condition that requires the use of a wheelchair, crutches, or similar device. However, some of the reduced licence fees and increased opportunities also apply to individuals that satisfy various other standards for ascertaining a disability.

"People First" Requirements.

The Office of the Code Revisor (CRO) is directed to avoid and change language in the Revised Code of Washington that is not respectful to people with disabilities. This includes identifying the individual as a person prior to identifying the disability. For instance, the CRO is directed to use the terminology "individuals with mental retardation" instead of "mentally retarded" and "individual with a handicap" instead of "handicapped" or "cripple."

Summary:

Definition of "Person With a Disability."

The definition of "person with a disability" is removed from the Fish and Wildlife code. Instead of a codified definition, the Fish and Wildlife Commission is instructed to adopt a definition by rule.

"People First" Changes.

Terminology changes are made in the Fish and Wildlife Code that conform with the respectful language requirements placed on the CRO. The terms "disabled person" and "person of disability" is replaced with "person with a disability."

Licensure Changes.

The authorization to provide reduced hunting and fishing licenses for individuals with disabilities is consolidated from two separate sections into one section. Individuals with a developmental disability must provide documentation of the disability from a physician.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   0
Senate   45   0   (Senate amended)
House   98   0   (House concurred)

Effective: July 22, 2007