HB 2227 reduces fishing license fees 30%

[blackdog]

http://wsldocs/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2227.pdf

[WSU]

This is nothing more than retaliation from Rep. Blake for the commission voting to reduce gillnetter harvest in Willapa Bay in order to avoid an ESA listing.  Earlier this year he ran a bill to increase fees in order help with the WDFW shortfall.  He has been threatening to cut funds to WDFW if they don't give his gillnetter buddies what they want.  He's just making good on his threat.  It's truly sad that legislators react this way when the commission finally takes action to avoid an ESA listing (which, by the way, would be a complete disaster for Blake's district). 

[bigtex]

This is nothing more than retaliation from Rep. Blake for the commission voting to reduce gillnetter harvest in Willapa Bay in order to avoid an ESA listing.  Earlier this year he ran a bill to increase fees in order help with the WDFW shortfall.  He has been threatening to cut funds to WDFW if they don't give his gillnetter buddies what they want.  He's just making good on his threat.  It's truly sad that legislators react this way when the commission finally takes action to avoid an ESA listing (which, by the way, would be a complete disaster for Blake's district).

This bill is more of a statement then something that will actually happen. Got to love legislators wasting time in Olympia on things they know wont pass and are simply personal.

[Curly]

The link isn't working for me. 

[JimmyHoffa]

I couldn't open the link either.  But 30% reduction for the license sounds good.

[JimmyHoffa]

HOUSE BILL 2227


State of Washington 64th Legislature 2015 Regular Session By Representatives Blake and Kretz


1 AN ACT Relating to increasing participation in recreational
2 fishing by lowering licensure costs; and amending RCW 77.32.470.


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


4 Sec. 1. RCW 77.32.470 and 2011 c 339 s 12 are each amended to
5 read as follows:
6 (1) A personal use saltwater, freshwater, combination, temporary,
7 or family fishing weekend license is required for all persons fifteen
8 years of age or older to fish for or possess fish taken for personal
9 use from state waters or offshore waters.
10 (2) The fees for annual personal use saltwater, freshwater, or
11 combination licenses are as follows:
12 (a) A combination license allows the holder to fish for or
13 possess fish, shellfish, and seaweed from state waters or offshore
14 waters. The fee for this license is ((forty-five)) thirty-one dollars

15 and fifty cents for residents,

((one hundred eight)) seventy-five

16 dollars and fifty cents for nonresidents, and five dollars for youth.
17 There is an additional fifty-cent surcharge for this license, to be
18 deposited in the rockfish research account created in RCW 77.12.702.
19 (b) A saltwater license allows the holder to fish for or possess
20 fish taken from saltwater areas. The fee for this license is
21 ((twenty-five)) seventeen dollars and fifty cents for residents,

1 ((fifty-two)) thirty-six dollars and fifty cents for nonresidents,
2 and five dollars for resident seniors. There is an additional fifty-
3 cent surcharge for this license, to be deposited in the rockfish
4 research account created in RCW 77.12.702.
5 (c) A freshwater license allows the holder to fish for, take, or
6 possess food fish or game fish species in all freshwater areas. The
7 fee for this license is ((twenty-five)) seventeen dollars and fifty
8 cents for residents, ((seventy-five)) fifty-two dollars and fifty
9 cents for nonresidents, and five dollars for resident seniors.
10 (3)(a) A temporary combination fishing license is valid for one
11 to three consecutive days and allows the holder to fish for or
12 possess fish, shellfish, and seaweed taken from state waters or
13 offshore waters. The fee for this temporary fishing license is:
14 (i) One day - ((Eight)) Five dollars and fifty cents for
15 residents and ((sixteen)) eleven dollars for nonresidents;
16 (ii) Two days - ((Twelve)) eight dollars for residents and
17 ((twenty-four)) seventeen dollars for nonresidents; and
18 (iii) Three days - ((Fifteen)) Ten dollars and fifty cents for
19 residents and ((thirty)) twenty-one dollars for nonresidents.
20 (b) The fee for a charter stamp is eight dollars for a one-day
21 temporary combination fishing license for residents and nonresidents
22 for use on a charter boat as defined in RCW 77.65.150.
23 (c) Except for active duty military personnel serving in any
24 branch of the United States armed forces, the temporary combination
25 fishing license is not valid on game fish species for an eight-
26 consecutive-day period beginning on the opening day of the lowland
27 lake fishing season as defined by rule of the commission.
28 (d) The temporary combination fishing license fee for active duty
29 military personnel serving in any branch of the United States armed
30 forces is the resident rate as set forth in (a) of this subsection.
31 Active duty military personnel must provide a valid military
32 identification card at the time of purchase of the temporary license
33 to qualify for the resident rate.
34 (e) There is an additional fifty-cent surcharge on the temporary
35 combination fishing license and the associated charter stamp, to be
36 deposited in the rockfish research account created in RCW 77.12.702.
37 (4) A family fishing weekend license allows for a maximum of six
38 anglers: One resident and five youth; two residents and four youth;
39 or one resident, one nonresident, and four youth. This license allows
40 the holders to fish for or possess fish taken from state waters or

1 offshore waters. The fee for this license is twenty dollars. This
2 license is only valid during periods as specified by rule of the
3 department.
4 (5) The commission may adopt rules to create and sell combination
5 licenses for all hunting and fishing activities at or below a fee
6 equal to the total cost of the individual license contained within
7 any combination.
8 (6) The commission may adopt rules to allow the use of two
9 fishing poles per fishing license holder for use on selected state
10 waters. If authorized by the commission, license holders must
11 purchase a two-pole stamp to use a second pole. The proceeds from the
12 sale of the two-pole stamp must be deposited into the state wildlife
13 account created in RCW 77.12.170 and used for the operation and
14 maintenance of state-owned fish hatcheries. The fee for a two-pole
15 stamp is thirteen dollars for residents and nonresidents, and five
16 dollars for seniors.

--- END ---

[WSU]

I couldn't open the link either.  But 30% reduction for the license sounds good.

It's only good if you dislike hatchery fish and fishing seasons.

[blackdog]

Senate companion SB 6112

[bigtex]

If this were to happen WDFW would lose $6,000,000 a year as a result of the decline of license costs.

[JimmyHoffa]

If this were to happen WDFW would lose $6,000,000 a year as a result of the decline of license costs.

Assuming they sold the same number of licenses.  With lower license prices, they could possibly sell more licenses.  And if they had a great product, like more fish/better catching; they would sell even more licenses.