20 dollar registration fee to take hunter safety class SHB 1199

[Skyhigh]

Would love to hear what others think about charging a registration few for hunters safety classess..I apologize if this topic has already been brought up.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1199-S.pdf

(4)(a) Beginning August 1, 2013, the director is authorized to
27 charge a registration fee of not more than twenty dollars for any
28 hunter education training course. This fee must be collected as
29 program income as defined in 50 C.F.R. Sec. 80.120 (2011). Program
30 income may be added to the moneys committed to the grant agreement by
31 the federal agency and the grantee. The program income must be used

[pianoman9701]

It has been brought up already. It's a good fee if it makes people give notice when they're not coming. The classes I teach have up to 30% no show with maxed out attendance. So, others who'd like to attend, can't.

[buckfvr]

I have to wonder if folks who have no intention of taking the class tie up spots just to keep suppressing recruitment.  Much the same way they apply for permits and special hunts only to prevent hunters from drawing them.  IMO 20 bucks wont prevent this, but who knows.....

[pianoman9701]

Then at least $20 will go into the HE program. I believe that $20 will make people more responsible. Many of the no shows are people who've booked multiple classes. Ones that are closest to them may be booked and they're on the waiting list. When the closest one calls them and says they're in, they don't bother or forget to take their names off the others.

[Skyhigh]

I agree it will help with the no-shows as folks will be less likely to burn 20 bucks...Some concerns I have, will it limit kids that are on the fence about getting into hunting? Moneys generated will actually be used for the hunters ed program and not some butterfly or frog project. How about this, volunteer instructors/labor generating an income for WDFW..That just doesnt sit right with me...I too am an instructor.

[buckfvr]

Then at least $20 will go into the HE program. I believe that $20 will make people more responsible. Many of the no shows are people who've booked multiple classes. Ones that are closest to them may be booked and they're on the waiting list. When the closest one calls them and says they're in, they don't bother or forget to take their names off the others.

Could'nt  this info be easily entered in a HE data base to prevent this ??  Maybe the lists could tag persons as to complete or incomplete........Im sure someone knows how to rectify a simple problem like that....I hope.

[pianoman9701]

Maybe that same kid didn't get the opportunity because the class was full. People often don't care enough about something until they take ownership of it. Paying $20 gives people ownership. If they don't have $20, they don't have enough to buy bullets, gas for their rig, or hunting clothes. And, I believe the fee is refundable once they take the class - not sure about that.

[bigtex]

Maybe that same kid didn't get the opportunity because the class was full. People often don't care enough about something until they take ownership of it. Paying $20 gives people ownership. If they don't have $20, they don't have enough to buy bullets, gas for their rig, or hunting clothes. And, I believe the fee is refundable once they take the class - not sure about that.

The fee is not refundable.

But I 100% agree with what you said. If you can't cough up $20 for a one time fee then how can you possibly pay for weapons, ammo, gear, licenses, gas, etc.

The whole "fee will reduce hunters" theme some have said on here doesn't fly with me. 

[pendoreilleadventures]

There is a twenty dollar sign up fee for classes at the Big Horn Show in Spokane every year and all of there classes get filled up no problem.

Not like its a lot of money in the first place you have to pay to play. The fee goes to play for ammo and other expenses I don't have an issue with it.

[bear hunter]

It has been brought up already. It's a good fee if it makes people give notice when they're not coming. The classes I teach have up to 30% no show with maxed out attendance. So, others who'd like to attend, can't.

I don't disagree and don't mind paying the 20.00. I just hope it is a one time fee if the child doesn't pass. My buddy kid had to take it twice,because the first instructor didn't let the kids dad help with the reading. So he failed. I have a learning disability and so did his kid. I don't think it is far to charge ever time. I tried to take the masterhunter ed. I was told by the fish and game to tell the instructor that I need more time on the test because of my learning disability. He said no. I took the test and was only able to answer 75 out of the 100. The last 25 was the easy ones true and false. I got 55% if I just had time to answer the last 25 I might of passed. They charged 20... for the test and now it is 50.... but they are not taking any more applications at this time. 

[Blacktail Sniper]

What bear hunter brings up is an excellent point/question.  I looked at the proposed amendment in the link at the start of this thread, and it appears as currently written that the fee is to be collected at registration for each class.

"(4)(a) Beginning August 1, 2013, the director is authorized to
27 charge a registration fee of not more than twenty dollars for any
28 hunter education training course."

Now would a retest be up to the individual instructor?   Or would the student be required to sign up (register again) and attend another complete class?   Not sure how the training system is set up now, so maybe that would not be an issue.

Anybody on here in the Hunter's Ed loop have any input???

[Blacktail Sniper]

And another point, regarding those with learning disability problems (especially since this is State sponsored and sanctioned event), I would think that by advising the instructor up front from the get go about this, that the ADA Act's protections apply and the instructor would be required by law to provide or allow reasonable accomodations for the particular student.

[jackmaster]

i honestly think it should cost more, i know alot of the HE instructors do it for free anywyas, and it is kind of irritating when there is a 20 dollar sign up fee that if you wish is refundable at the completion of the class and then there are those few people that actually want their money back instead of donating to the program, its a shame for sure, those instructors go out of their way to help young hunters out and they sometimes dont have the best training aids and those donations help to improve those aids. someday when i am retired i would like to be an instuctor myself, a fella gets alot of satisfaction out of helpn the youngsters

[BIGINNER]

I THINK THE $20 SHOULD GO TOWARD THE KID'S LICENSE IF THEY PASS.   

[Blacktail Sniper]

I THINK THE $20 SHOULD GO TOWARD THE KID'S LICENSE IF THEY PASS.   

Thay already get a pretty decent discount until they turn 16 as it is now.