HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2010

BYRepresentatives R. King, Basich, McLean and Inslee

Allowing nonambulatory disabled persons to hunt from nonhighway motor vehicles.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives R. King, Chair; Morris, Vice Chair; S. Wilson, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bowman, Brooks, Cole, Haugen, Smith, Spanel and Vekich.

House Staff:Pamela Madson (786-7310)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 9, 1989

BACKGROUND:

To legally hunt in the State of Washington, a person must obtain the proper hunting licenses and must observe laws relating to possessing and discharging weapons.

A licensed hunter may not carry a loaded weapon in a motor vehicle, a nonhighway vehicle, or a snowmobile, and may not hunt from a nonhighway vehicle or a snowmobile.  A hunter may not shoot from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway.

SUMMARY:

A disabled hunter may obtain a permit from the Department of Wildlife to hunt from a non-moving motor vehicle that has the engine turned off.  Motor vehicle includes nonhighway vehicles and snowmobiles.

A disabled hunter may not hunt from a vehicle that is parked on or beside the maintained portion of a public highway, and may not possess a loaded weapon in a motor vehicle that is moving.

The disabled hunter may have one non-disabled hunter assist in killing, tagging, and retrieving the animal; however, the non-disabled hunter may not carry a loaded weapon in a vehicle or hunt from the vehicle.

A disabled hunter must possess all necessary hunting licenses and must comply with permits for concealed weapons and must comply with all laws regarding discharge of a weapon.

A disabled hunter is a person of disability who is permanently disabled and who is not ambulatory without the assistance of a wheelchair, crutches, or similar devices.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Jim King, Washington State Sportsmen's Council; Rich Poelker, Washington Department of Wildlife; Rory Calhoun, Dick Rankin, Stephen Larby and Dan Eberly, members of Task Force on Hunting and Fishing Opportunity for the Handicapped.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Hunters who have become permanently disabled have had to adapt to other ways of hunting.  This proposal allows increased opportunity for hunters who use a wheelchair or similar device. Disabled hunters are concerned for the safety of all hunters and observe the laws currently in place to protect the safety of all hunters.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.