House Bill 1597

Does anyone here have any thoughts on House Bill 1597? I’m having a hard time finding information on it, specificly , if it has any effect on sport fishing license fees. I’m thinking it only effects commercial fishing but the wording is very vague.

Here's a link to the bill. Lots of changes in the RCW

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/House/1597-S.SL.pdf

Some history - looks like it was jammed through on the last day or two of the third special session. Didn't make it out of the regular session, was rolled forward to the second/first special session, didn't get out of there and was then rammed through over the last day or two of the third session without a lot of testimony. One of the up sides is commercial license fees will go to WDFW rather than the General Fund and there is a bump in the landing excise tax on Chinook to just over 6%.

https://openstates.org/wa/bills/2017-2018/HB1597/

A real short synopsis. It primarily affects the commercial fleet and any guides who have a food fish endorsement/license.

Bill Title: Increasing revenue to the state wildlife account by increasing commercial fishing license fees and streamlining wholesale fish dealing, buying, and selling requirements.

....and here's a link to a more detailed explanation of the bill.

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2...R%2017%20E3.pdf

Yes, the commercial license fees were increased but this was extracted from the bill as passed:

"Beginning with fiscal year 2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, the director must determine both the total amount of fees deposited in the state wildlife account for the sale of commercial licenses required under this title, and the portion of those fees that is attributable to the fee increases enacted in this act. The director must certify these amounts to the state treasurer, who must transfer the difference between these two amounts to the state general fund within one month of the close of the fiscal year. The portion of those fees that is attributable to the fee increases enacted in this act is retained in the state wildlife account." (emphasis added)

So, there is a nominal increase in commercial license fees but it is only the increased portion that goes to the Wildlife Account.

As a result the 249 Puget Sound NT commercial crabbers see increases of $50.00 for residents and $70.00 for non-residents; the only part of their licenses that will go directly to managing their fishery.

I am underwhelmed.

Larry

Thanks for digging deeper. Something not right about the agency being tasked with the management of a resource and not getting the full amount of the license fee and then having to go back hat in hand each budget cycle to ask/beg for additional general fund dollars for operational needs. The GF dollars have been cut by almost 60%, I think, over the past few bienniums. It ain't right.

Government always does unfunded mandates. And the recs keep ponying up.

The pragmatist (cynic) in me has me wondering whether the additional administrative costs will exceed the increase in revenue. And to which account(s) will those additional administrative costs be charged and how will they be apportioned if from more than one account?

Obviously KISS is not at work.......

It allows the Legislators to say that they are making the commercials begin to pay their way while actually accomplishing nothing.

The Leg is good at that. Way back, the passed a law requiring DOE to process water right applications in a fixed time, and also reduced funding for the people who review and approve them.

Thanks for the info. It’s getting to the point of the State being so FUBAR I don’t care about it anymore.

Perfect. That's just what they want. Stop caring and they'll keep on passing non-voter supported legislation and tax increases.