AN ACT Relating to allowing additional hunting opportunities on state land; and amending RCW 79A.05.055, 79A.05.625, 79A.05.793, 79A.55.060, and 79A.05.165.

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

Sec. 1.  RCW 79A.05.055 and 1997 c 137 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The commission may:

(1) Study and appraise parks and recreational needs of the state and assemble and disseminate information relative to parks and recreation;

(2) Make provisions for the publication and sale of interpretive, recreational, and historical materials and literature((.)), with the proceeds from ((such)) sales ((shall be)) directed to the parks improvement account created in RCW 79A.05.060; ((and))

(3) Coordinate the parks and recreational functions of the various state departments, and cooperate with state and federal agencies in the promotion of parks and recreational opportunities; and

(4) Expressly authorize hunting in specific state parks or specific portions of state parks as long as all hunting activities are conducted consistent with Title 77 RCW.

Sec. 2.  RCW 79A.05.625 and 2000 c 11 s 49 are each amended to read as follows:

Nothing in RCW 79A.05.600 through ((79A.05.630 and 79A.05.635 through)) 79A.05.695 shall be construed to interfere with the powers, duties, and authority of the department of fish and wildlife to regulate the conservation or taking of food fish and shellfish. Nor shall anything in RCW 79A.05.600 through ((79A.05.630 and 79A.05.635 through)) 79A.05.695 be construed to interfere with the powers, duties, and authority of the department of fish and wildlife to regulate, manage, conserve, and provide for the harvest of wildlife within such area((: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That)). However, no hunting shall be permitted in any state park except where expressly authorized by the commission.

Sec. 3.  RCW 79A.05.793 and 2000 c 11 s 64 are each amended to read as follows:

Nothing in RCW 79A.05.750 through 79A.05.795 shall be construed to interfere with the powers, duties, and authority of the state department of fish and wildlife or the state fish and wildlife commission to regulate, manage, conserve, and provide for the harvest of wildlife within such area((: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That)). However, no hunting shall be permitted in any state park except where expressly authorized by the commission.

Sec. 4.  RCW 79A.55.060 and 1999 c 249 s 805 are each amended to read as follows:

Nothing contained in this chapter shall affect the authority of the department of fish and wildlife to construct facilities or make improvements to facilitate the passage or propagation of fish nor shall anything in this chapter be construed to interfere with the powers, duties, and authority of the department of fish and wildlife to regulate, manage, conserve, and provide for the harvest of fish or wildlife within any area designated as being in the state's scenic river system. No hunting shall be permitted in any state park except where expressly authorized by the commission.

Sec. 5.  RCW 79A.05.165 and 2007 c 441 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who:

(a) Cuts, breaks, injures, destroys, takes, or removes any tree, shrub, timber, plant, or natural object in any park or parkway except in accordance with such rules as the commission may prescribe; or

(b) Kills, or pursues with intent to kill, any bird or animal in any park or parkway except:

(i) In accordance with a research pass, permit, or other approval issued by the commission, pursuant to rule, for scientific research purposes; or

(c) Takes any fish from the waters of any park or parkway, except in conformity with such general rules as the commission may prescribe; or

(d) Willfully mutilates, injures, defaces, or destroys any guidepost, notice, tablet, fence, inclosure, or work for the protection or ornamentation of any park or parkway; or

(e) Lights any fire upon any park or parkway, except in such places as the commission has authorized, or willfully or carelessly permits any fire which he or she has lighted or which is under his or her charge, to spread or extend to or burn any of the shrubbery, trees, timber, ornaments, or improvements upon any park or parkway, or leaves any campfire which he or she has lighted or which has been left in his or her charge, unattended by a competent person, without extinguishing it; or

(f) Places within any park or parkway or affixes to any object therein contained, without a written license from the commission, any word, character, or device designed to advertise any business, profession, article, thing, exhibition, matter, or event.

(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a person who violates any rule adopted, promulgated, or issued by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) The commission may specify by rule, when not inconsistent with applicable statutes, that violation of the rule is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.

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