BILL REQ. #:  H-1513.1 

Read first time 02/18/13.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to the creation of additional requirements for certain fishing guide activities; amending RCW 77.65.370 and 77.15.510; and adding a new section to chapter 77.65 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 77.65 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department must issue a western Washington steelhead guide stamp to any person who satisfies the conditions of this section. The western Washington steelhead guide stamp must be purchased in order to serve as a fishing guide for steelhead in any nonmarine body of water located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains.
     (2) A western Washington steelhead guide stamp may only be purchased by a person who:
     (a) Holds a game fish guide license issued under RCW 77.65.480 or a charter license issued under RCW 77.65.150;
     (b) Pays a western Washington steelhead guide stamp fee set by the commission under this section; and
     (c) Satisfies any prerequisites for purchase established by rule by the commission under this section.
     (3) The commission may adopt rules that:
     (a) Establish experience and safety standards that are prerequisites for purchasing a western Washington steelhead guide stamp;
     (b) Establish fees at an amount adequate to reimburse the department's administrative expenses for implementing this section, which may include different fee schedules for Washington residents and nonresidents; and
     (c) Limits the number of western Washington steelhead guide stamps available for purchase each year if resource conservation goals require a reduction in fishing pressure.
     (4) A western Washington steelhead guide stamp may only be purchased during the times of the year when steelhead fishing is not allowed under the rules of the commission.

Sec. 2   RCW 77.65.370 and 2009 c 333 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person shall not offer or perform the services of a food fish guide without a food fish guide license in the taking of food fish for personal use in freshwater rivers and streams, except that a charter boat license is required to operate a vessel from which a person may for a fee fish for food fish in state waters listed in RCW 77.65.150(4)(b).
     (2) The holder of a food fish guide license may only offer or perform services related to the taking of steelhead in nonmarine bodies of water located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains if the license holder also purchases a western Washington steelhead guide stamp under section 1 of this act.
     (3) Only an individual at least sixteen years of age may hold a food fish guide license. No individual may hold more than one food fish guide license.

Sec. 3   RCW 77.15.510 and 2009 c 333 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person is guilty of acting as a game fish guide, food fish guide, or chartering without a license if:
     (a) The person operates a charter boat and does not hold the charter boat license required for the food fish taken;
     (b) The person acts as a food fish guide and does not hold a food fish guide license; ((or))
     (c) The person acts as a game fish guide and does not hold a game fish guide license; or
     (d) The person offers or performs guide services related to the taking of steelhead in nonmarine bodies of water located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains without first obtaining a western Washington steelhead guide stamp under section 1 of this act.
     (2) Acting without a game fish guide license, food fish guide license, or charter license is a gross misdemeanor.