HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1936

BYRepresentatives Brough, K. Wilson and Sanders

Providing for group fishing permits for groups supervised by health care facility or hospital staff.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (19)

      Signed by Representatives Sutherland, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Amondson, Basich, Beck, Belcher, Bumgarner, Butterfield, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Haugen, Meyers, Sayan, Schmidt, C. Smith, Spanel and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Robert Butts (786-7841)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 10, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Prior to January 1, 1988, individuals only needed a fishing license when they were fishing for salmon and game fish, such as steelhead and trout.  As a result of legislation passed in 1987, licenses also are now required when fishing for perch, sole, and other species of food fish found in Puget Sound and other waters in the state.  The fee for an annual food fish personal use license is $3.00 for residents, although the fee is waived for young people and senior citizens.

Personnel from health care facilities and hospitals sponsor fishing trips for their patients, often going to local piers to catch perch, sole, and other fish.  According to hospital personnel, fishing is good therapy for the patients, and provides a welcome outdoor experience.  With the added cost and inconvenience of purchasing individual personal use fishing licenses, hospital personnel are concerned that patient fishing trips will be more difficult and expensive to arrange.

A program similar to that proposed in this bill is currently available for game fish.  However, there is no charge for the game fish group permit.  In fiscal year 1987, seventy-nine free group permits were issued under the game fish program.

SUMMARY:

Patients, handicapped persons, and senior citizens may fish for food fish without individual licenses if their fishing activity is only occasional, if they are in a group supervised by the staff of a licensed care facility or a licensed hospital, and if the facility or hospital obtains a group fishing permit issued by the Director of the Department of Fisheries.  The fee for the permit is $25.00.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 2, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Marilynn Hoff, Happy Hooker Baite and Tackle; Bob Ace, King County Outdoor Sports Council; and Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill will allow hospitals and other health care facilities to continue taking their patients on fishing outings without incurring a great cost or having to buy individual licenses.  The number of fish likely to be caught under this program will continue to be very small.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.