SB5622 Discover Pass - sent to Gov

[bigtex]

Good - If you have a sno-park pass you do not need a discover pass.

Thats PARTIALLY true.

You will not need the discover pass if you have a sno-park pass and are parked in a sno-park. But you CANNOT use a sno-park pass for DNR and DFW lands or State Parks.

Basically you don't have to have a sno-park pass and discover pass to park at a sno-park. But the sno-park pass only "works" at sno-parks.

[bigtex]

Bad - Parks still get 84 percent of the monies of the first 71 million made.  Anything over 71 million gets split evenly between DNR, DFW, parks.

Well thats also PARTIALLY true. It's not just the first 84% of 71 million of the that goes to Parks, then after that everyone is equal. It's per biennium! So from July 1, 2011- June 30, 2013 the first 84% of 71 million will go to Parks, anything after 71 million gets split evenly. THEN July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015 the first 84% 71 million will go to Parks, anything after 71 million gets split evenly.

So it's not like as soon as 71 million is hit then all the years after that DNR, Parks and WDFW gets an even share. Essentially every 2 years it is restarted back at $0.

[Elkaholic daWg]

So it's not like as soon as 71 million is hit then all the years after that DNR, Parks and WDFW gets an even share. Essentially every 2 years it is restarted back at $0
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 Only those who voted for those in the upper left would be stupid enough not to know that

 It is still a legislative ripoff for State Parks

CCA's take on it and others...

The legislature adjourned Sine Die April 22nd.  The Governor has called the legislature back into Special Session starting on Tuesday, April 26th.  There remains a great deal of unfinished business. Including passing both a Operating Budget and a Capitol Budget.  In addition, there are close to 70 bills they will need to pass in order to implement their budget assumptions.

After lengthy debate....The legislature passed SSB 5622 on Thursday, April 21 (Discover Pass).  As previously reported, this bill as introduced would have required everyone wishing to access lands managed by DNR, Parks and WDFW to pay an additional $30.00 (Including Fishing and Hunting license holders).  The bill was eventually amended in the Senate Natural Resources Committee to charge anglers and hunters $7.00 more.  After working with several other stakeholder groups, we were able to amend the bill in Senate Ways and Means to exempt anglers and hunters from paying anything to access WDFW lands and certain DNR lands.  Hunters and anglers were already paying for access to WDFW lands through their license fees.  This bill passed both the House and Senate in a 24 hour period and is on it's way to the Governor.  This is a nice victory for hunters and fisherman.  It more or less maintains the current vehicle access pass while also charging non-consumptive users to access lands historically funded by hunting and fishing license holders.  This will generate some additional revenue for WDFW.
 
SB 5669 (Consolidation) came back to life last week with a proposed striker amendment.  The striker would have removed the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Commission over the WDFW budget as well as tribal,interstate, international and agency agreements.  Most salmon and steelhead fisheries in the state are subject to at least one of these agreements.  We made it clear to key members of the Senate that we would oppose this latest attack on the Commission. We took immediate action by helping to craft a letter of opposition from several organizations that was sent to the entire Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday.  Working with Senator Zarelli and his staff, we also help draft amendments to remove those specific sections of the bill if it moved forward.  Congressman Norm Dicks also weighed in with his concerns.  As a result, it appears we are going to avoid any further attacks on the Commission and those sections will be removed from the proposed substitute bill.  We will continue to monitor it closely.
 

[KopperBuck]

I'm surprised to see Schoesler voting for it. Still a bullchit model in my opinion..

[sakoshooter]

Anyone know- can it be transferred from one vehicle to another or do you have to purchase one for every vehicle you own? I wouldn't have a problem with it if I only had to pay $30, but if I have to pay $30 for each of the four vehicles that we own, then I will NOT be visiting state parks or DNR land anymore.

Another question- is it only needed if you drive a vehicle onto state lands? If so, I have some places I hunt where I will just park on the county right of way and walk onto the state land.

I believe I just read that it is not transferable. You have to put your license # on it.

[bigtex]

One of the issues I have with the pass is that it isn't needed to access the "seashore conservation area" aka..the ocean beaches. So you have to use it to access all DNR lands, WDFW Lands, State Parks, but the areas that probably get the most use/visitation it isn't needed?

Just to provide a little more info, basically all of the coastline from the Columbia River to the Quinault Rez is owned by Wa St Parks, however it is not classified as a state park but rather the "seashore conservation area". And the Discovery Pass is only required for state parks (and DNR/DFW lands) but not required on the "seashore conservation area". It just seems like if the state/agencies really wanted the $ they would require it at the place that gets most visitiation  To me it would be like if the National Park Service decided to increase fees at all national parks except Yellowston, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.

[bobcat]

How is this going to work for areas that are mostly private timberlands, such as Weyerhaeuser, where you have the occasional section of DNR land mixed in? Surely they're not going to enforce the requirement for a Discover pass just for those people who are driving through the DNR land to visit the Weyerhaeuser land on the other side? Or even if it's something like 5 or 6 miles to drive through a block of DNR land to get to the Weyerhaeuser (or other private company) land on the other side? If I don't intend to stop my vehicle and hunt on the state land I should not be required to have the Discover pass, correct?

[bigtex]

How is this going to work for areas that are mostly private timberlands, such as Weyerhaeuser, where you have the occasional section of DNR land mixed in? Surely they're not going to enforce the requirement for a Discover pass just for those people who are driving through the DNR land to visit the Weyerhaeuser land on the other side? Or even if it's something like 5 or 6 miles to drive through a block of DNR land to get to the Weyerhaeuser (or other private company) land on the other side? If I don't intend to stop my vehicle and hunt on the state land I should not be required to have the Discover pass, correct?

In those circumstances you won't need it. The bill clearly defined the areas you will need it on DNR land: department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas, sites, trailheads, and parking areas. So if it is not one of those areas then you won't need it.

However with WDFW lands it is more “strict”: fish and wildlife conservation sites including water access areas, boat ramps, wildlife areas, parking areas, roads, and trailheads. There is plenty of DNR land within a WDFW established “wildlife areas” where WDFW basically manages the land for DNR, so in those circumstances you will need the pass.

[Special T]

Big Tex They don't do it because there would be open rebellion against the plan... The Idea is to get people who have money and are willing to spend it (Us hunters) to pay for something  that we don't use as much but other people who won't pony up do. Its you basic  transfer of money, rob peter to pay paul gov program.  When the state says they need to "find revenue" it is loosely translated into "Who can we shake down". 

[bigtex]

As far as State Parks go, I truly hope that they will enforce this law/regulation on their land. That agency is really focused on "education" with their violations and rangers. WA St Park Rangers are full-authority police officers while on park property and can arrest/cite for any state law violation. I know some former rangers who are former rangers because their supervisors told them they are writing too many tickets, which is a common issue with park systems, some want their rangers to be cops, others want them to be more like security guards. There are a couple parks in WA where the rangers are proactive and that’s mainly because they have to be, such as Banks Lake and Sun Lakes, and the coastal beaches. But WA St Parks would rather pay an outside agency to "police" their lands then have their own people do it. They pay WDFW some money to do snowmobile enforcement at Mt Spokane. They pay a lot to Grays Harbor County Sheriff (and I'm guessing Pacific County) to patrol the coastal beaches during the summer and other big events such as clam digs, WDFW usually also helps out too.

[bobcat]

How is this going to work for areas that are mostly private timberlands, such as Weyerhaeuser, where you have the occasional section of DNR land mixed in? Surely they're not going to enforce the requirement for a Discover pass just for those people who are driving through the DNR land to visit the Weyerhaeuser land on the other side? Or even if it's something like 5 or 6 miles to drive through a block of DNR land to get to the Weyerhaeuser (or other private company) land on the other side? If I don't intend to stop my vehicle and hunt on the state land I should not be required to have the Discover pass, correct?

In those circumstances you won't need it. The bill clearly defined the areas you will need it on DNR land: department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas, sites, trailheads, and parking areas. So if it is not one of those areas then you won't need it.

However with WDFW lands it is more “strict”: fish and wildlife conservation sites including water access areas, boat ramps, wildlife areas, parking areas, roads, and trailheads. There is plenty of DNR land within a WDFW established “wildlife areas” where WDFW basically manages the land for DNR, so in those circumstances you will need the pass.

Well that's totally new to me. If that's the case, then I have to say, I have no objections to this Discover pass. If what you say is true, then it sounds to me like I can continue to hunt most of the state lands I have always hunted, and will not need to purchase the pass. As far as the WDFW lands, none of us will need to buy it for that either, correct? (I believe a hunting license exempts us from needing the Discover pass for WDFW lands)

[bigtex]

How is this going to work for areas that are mostly private timberlands, such as Weyerhaeuser, where you have the occasional section of DNR land mixed in? Surely they're not going to enforce the requirement for a Discover pass just for those people who are driving through the DNR land to visit the Weyerhaeuser land on the other side? Or even if it's something like 5 or 6 miles to drive through a block of DNR land to get to the Weyerhaeuser (or other private company) land on the other side? If I don't intend to stop my vehicle and hunt on the state land I should not be required to have the Discover pass, correct?

In those circumstances you won't need it. The bill clearly defined the areas you will need it on DNR land: department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas, sites, trailheads, and parking areas. So if it is not one of those areas then you won't need it.

However with WDFW lands it is more “strict”: fish and wildlife conservation sites including water access areas, boat ramps, wildlife areas, parking areas, roads, and trailheads. There is plenty of DNR land within a WDFW established “wildlife areas” where WDFW basically manages the land for DNR, so in those circumstances you will need the pass.

Well that's totally new to me. If that's the case, then I have to say, I have no objections to this Discover pass. If what you say is true, then it sounds to me like I can continue to hunt most of the state lands I have always hunted, and will not need to purchase the pass. As far as the WDFW lands, none of us will need to buy it for that either, correct? (I believe a hunting license exempts us from needing the Discover pass for WDFW lands)

That’s correct there will still be a complimentary WDFW pass for hunting and fishing licenses that can only be used for WDFW lands. So if you never go to any state parks, or stay off DNR developed/designated areas then you won’t need the pass. However if you plan on being in a “state forest” then be prepared to get the discovery pass because they are owned by DNR and are “recreation areas”.

[bobcat]

OK, so you're saying anywhere within Capitol State Forest, the pass will be required? Even if a person is not using established trails, parking areas, campgrounds, etc? If so, I guess I won't be hunting there anymore. That's ok. I have lots of other areas to hunt. As long as I can hunt all other state lands without the pass I'm happy.

[bigtex]

To see some (not all) of the DNR areas that will need the Discovery Pass check out this website: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/OpenClosureNotices/Pages/amr_statewide_rec.aspx

You can view the areas by region or county.

[bigtex]

OK, so you're saying anywhere within Capitol State Forest, the pass will be required? Even if a person is not using established trails, parking areas, campgrounds, etc? If so, I guess I won't be hunting there anymore. That's ok. I have lots of other areas to hunt. As long as I can hunt all other state lands without the pass I'm happy.

Thats correct. Because state forests are "department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas"