New Discover Pass law is WORSE for Hunters.

[rtspring]

like replacing rifles the game departments takes from you. lol, sorry i couldnt resist

YA STUFF LIKE THAT!!!  LMAO

[Bigtine96]

This state can shove the discover pass right up their %#@

The only thing I have discovered is they are a bunch of crooks and thieves.

[bigtex]

Looks like they closed that loophole (and potential lawsuit like the USFS just had) yesterday with bill 2373.

Once again Fireweed the federal lawsuit only applies to federal lands, this is because the court found the USFS was violating the federal lands fee law. The federal lands fee law only applies to federal lands. So when you keep saying that the legislature is doing this to prevent lawsuit, it is a complete lie.

[billythekidrock]

Got this from State Parks the other day.

Dear Colleagues,

Here’s where we stand on Monday Morning, March 05 with the legislature. I apologize for the rather long report, so if you are uninterested, please feel free to delete.

I expect that most of you are wanting to understand where we are at with legislative issues because the details of the progress of the Discover Pass legislation and budget deliberations are relevant right now to your day-to-day work.  The public is asking many of you what is happening to the future of state parks, and legislative actions seems just so consequential to us now.


A.      The Discover Pass: 

The House passed  its version of the major piece of Discover Pass legislation for the session -  ESSHB 2373 .  Here are its highlights:

 
1.       2-vehicle transferability for $30 per year. This would take place immediately and retroactively for all folks who have already purchased a pass.  No refunds for those who have already purchased to passes would be allowed.

2.       Flexibility on when the Discover Pass activation starts (will make gifting easier).

3.       Expansion to all of DNR's uplands which would be subject to the pass requirement.

4.       Broadening locations and methods of sale.

5.       Provides as an option that the agencies may choose to offer a $50 fully transferable pass that is called a “Family Discover Pass.”  The word “family” is a misnomer, in that the pass could be used by anyone, inside the same household or not.

6.       Provides for wholesaling of the pass at the discretion of State Parks.  For example, we could sell the pass to our  Friends Groups for $28, and they would sell it for $30 and use the difference to support their program. Alternatively, we could establish an incentive program with Costco, selling them the pass for a discount if they purchase in advance a certain number of passes.

7.       Special Events could, at the discretion of the agency, be exempt from the Discover Pass, if they pay other fees to state parks.  For example, a wedding party could pay a flat fee for rental of a portion of a park, and within designated parking areas, wedding guests wouldn’t need to have the Discover Pass.  This provision will work well with the policy that is up for C omission consideration at the end of this month.

8.       Eliminates requirement to get a Discover Pass if visitor already has a Sno-Park day pass.

9.       A number of technical corrections to the law, all of which are helpful.

10.   Directs Hotel/Motel Tax receipts from State Parks lodging and camping to go back to State Parks. This is about $300,000 per year.

11.   Creates a 3-year temporary $10 RV license surcharge that would net the agency in excess of $2 million per year.

12.   Expands  the existing Opt-Out vehicle donation program to additional vehicles (like snowmobiles, mopeds, and ¾ ton pick-up trucks.)

13.   Contains an emergency clause to have it enforced immediately upon the governor’s signature.

 
The Senate has taken up ESSHB 2373 and it is now on the floor, having already passed from Ways and Means and Rules Committees without a hearing.  Senator Ranker, the prime sponsor of earlier Senate Discover Pass 2-vehcle transferability legislation, is the point person for this bill.  He has put in a “striker amendment” for consideration.  It has already been pulled off the floor and put back in once, and there is no reason to believe that it wouldn’t get modified again before actual debate begins.  But the core provisions of the amendment, changes ESSHB2373 in the following ways:

 
1.       Removes the option for wholesaling, but expands the option for charging vendor fees above the $30 amount to all contracted vendors.  It also doesn’t set a limit on those dealer fees.

2.       Doesn’t change the requirement to get a Discover Pass for daily Sno-Park pass holders

3.       Eliminates RV license surcharge

4.       Eliminates Opt-Out expansion

 

The Senate debate on the Discover Pass was scheduled to proceed on Friday, when a major event transformed the evening. Three Senate Democrats went over to support Senate Republicans on their budget, including support on all procedural issues.  So, the Discover Pass, and many other issues were relegated to secondary status.  At this point, it is not clear when the bill will be taken back up, but it could be as early as Monday or as late as… well, if the budget deliberations become insurmountable in the next 4 days, our Discover Pass legislation and much else, may be still on the docket if/when a Special Session is called.

 
Finally, here’s what we don’t know.  The Senate may choose to adopt its version near the end of the session and try to pressure the House to simply adopt it or adopt nothing.  Or, it could go back and forth a couple of times, or it could go to a conference committee.  Everyone I talk with is confident that something will pass.  But the brinksmanship is on now.

 

B.      Budget - Revenues

 

There are still several bills and movements in place to try to get State Parks additional funding.  There appears to be broad bi-partisan desire to assist State Parks in some fashion, but of course, the how and how much is where there are differences. 


SB6387 has passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature or veto.  This bill directs all fines from Discover Pass citations to go into the 3-agency Discover Pass account.  This is projected to provide in the range of $1,400,000 per biennium.


Here is what is still in play in the Legislature:


1.       Expanding the Parks donation “opt-out” to additional vehicles.  It’s in the House Discover Pass bill but not in Senator Ranker’s striker amendment.

2.       Adding an RV license surcharge of $10 per vehicle. It’s in the House Discover Pass bill but not in Senator Ranker’s striker amendment.

3.       Hotel/Motel tax funds. It’s in the House Discover Pass bill but not in Senator Ranker’s striker amendment.

4.       A one-time transfer of $4 million from DNR’s ALEA fund (Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account) to State Parks. These are funds derived from aquatic leasing (like geoduck beds), that normally have gone for water access capital projects.  The Senate-passed budget includes these funds.  Neither of the House Democratic nor Republican budgets include these funds.

 
Both chambers and both caucuses appear to be seeking about $4.5 million in additional revenue to help State Parks this biennium.  Again, as long as there is not a strange and squished end of the session, it is looking promising that not only will the agency take a zero hit on its existing $17 million General Fund appropriation, but we have a good chance of getting those additional revenues of about $4.5 million.

 
Both the House and Senate budgets at this point also contain supplemental capital funds for State Parks.  The most House Democratic version contains $9,930,000 and the Senate Democratic version contains $8,930,000.  The Senate version provides a bit more flexibility for State Parks in how it is spent, and does not contain Certificates of Participation, which are financial instruments that require us to pay back the cost of the capital improvement from our operating funds.

 
C.      Budget – Provisos


Currently, the Senate budget has a proviso that requires State Parks to remove trees that are dead or dying from the fire at Brooks Memorial State Park by September 30, 2012.  For several practical reasons, the agency is expressing concern to legislators about this provision, though we do intend to remove trees by next winter.  There has also been much discussion about the potential for a budget proviso requiring, directing, or encouraging the agency to transfer Fort Worden State Park to a local Public Development Authority.  As of now, no such proviso is included in any budget proposed or passed by either chamber or party.


I hope you find this report helpful.  It is possible that the legislature will complete its work on March 8, the end of the regular session.  Or, a special session may be needed.  I will be sure to get back to you soon after completion of the legislators work, or in about 2 weeks, whichever comes first.

Take care,

Daniel

[YellowDog]

I am not buying sheet ...never have and never will ... they give me a ticket I will be taking it to the Supreme court .....This is BS and we should not be letting these arz holes keep taking our freedom  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 

When you say you will take it to the supreme court i have to wonder if you are an attormey, indepemdently wealthy, and/ or retired?
If not your looking at a lot of time and expense for a $100ticket

[washelkhunter]

Where is the exemption for those who have purchased hunting and fishing licenses? Thats what we want!

[Gringo31]

For the first time in my life I am thinking about no longer hunting in this state.  I just want to archery hunt mule deer, hunt elk if I'm drawn and love to hunt predators.  The only time I've wanted to hunt discover pass areas is to chase predators.  I'm thinking that the predators I remove should grant me a deer a year and maybe even the chance to chase an elk.

The money grab and BS to hunt public land has me feeling sour.  I can buy an out of state deer tag that comes with 2 does for $255 in South Dakota (for example).

What a damn wreck and the real problem is..........................it's not going to get better, only worse.

[high country]

I wish they would just raise the price to $500 so we can get this revolution on its way.

[Gringo31]

Its not so bad............they at least work with us..........

The Discover Pass legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks

They give us FREE days to visit STATE PARKS!!!!!!!

 

[high country]

Good lord, now they want to pimp my cash to Costco.

[wraithen]

I wish they would just raise the price to $500 so we can get this revolution on its way.

Do you mean because we will all be hunting for free?

[carver52]

All of this BS is just another example of and reason why I'll stay here only one more season, then I'm OUTTA HERE.   Moving to Nevada where things are much more friendly for sportsmen and businesses.

[washelkhunter]

Hey Gringo. Im thinking of deer hunting out of state as well. SD sounds like a bargain. When is the season in SD?

[bobcat]

Hey Gringo. Im thinking of deer hunting out of state as well. SD sounds like a bargain. When is the season in SD?

Yeah, that sounds cheap, figure about $1000 in fuel just in getting there and back.

Plus motels, food, hunting license and tags, time off work, etc.   

[6x6in6]

Adds to the types of vehicles for which the owners are given the opportunity to donate to state parks upon vehicle registration.
Creates a $10 state parks support fee on recreational vehicle registrations until
July 1, 2015, for deposit into the Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account,
with funds directed towards the operation and maintenance at the State Parks
that accommodate recreational vehicles.Creates an up to $50 Family Discover Pass that is transferable among any vehicle.
Allows tsunami cleanup to count as volunteer hours towards a free Discover Pass.

Am I reading this correctly that when my RV tabs come due, there will be a $10 state parks support fee automatically tacked on to my tabs purchase?  My RV has never seen a State Park, and probably never will, yet I have to pay some jacked up fee for a renewal and stewardship account that I will never experience said "stewardship" between now and July 2015 (and we know it will get a forever extension, who are they kidding).

I find it a bit humorous that this bill only allows tsunami clean up as a method of volunteer hours for a free pass.   No freebies here....