HB 1097 is in direct conflict of Referendum Bill 45 regarding transparency through open meetings replacing closed door politics for science driven conservation when it comes to administering of our state fish and wildlife through the F&W commission. The findings and intent of referendum bill 45 states that the commission must act in an open and deliberative process that encourages public involvement and increases public confidence in department decision making.
Referendum 45 was sent to ballot by the 1995 state legislature. By looking at the poll results, the highly popular referendum bill 45 passed statewide by nearly 61% while passing in each and every county of our state. The legislature passed this into law in conjunction with the State of Washington voter’s wishes.
Our state legislature and state voters from all corners of our state spoke loud and clear against a bill like HB 1097 regarding closed door meetings/ politic when it comes to managing our fragile state fish and wildlife resources.
Too be more specific;
When the lawmakers in Olympia sent Referendum Bill 45 to the ballot for the state voters to reject or ratify, the results were a resounding victory in every county in the state resulting in sections being added to Title 77 of the RCW’s by our Olympia lawmakers in conjunction with the electorate of this state.
Sections of law added resulting from Referendum Bill 45 were RCW 77.04.013, and RCW 77.04.055 among others.
HB 1097 wants to add language to RCW 77.04.055 and at the same time ignore RCW 77.04.013 which states “The commission acts in an open and deliberative process that encourages public involvement and increases public confidence in department decision making.”
HB 1097 language requiring the F&W commission or WDFW on the commission's behalf to closed to the public meetings is in contempt of existing law and intent of what the lawmakers and voters from all corners of the state expected as proper conduct.
My wife and I voted for referendum bill 45 with the understanding that open to public involvement meetings would replace some of the perceived closed door clandestine meetings in the management of our fish and wildlife of our state.
In other words, we felt that the fragile state of our fish and wildlife would be better served by being managed by other means (science) than politics through the F&W Commission.
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