H-2221.1           _______________________________________________
                             SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1681
                   _______________________________________________
State of Washington               56th Legislature             1999 Regular Session
By House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by
Representatives Buck, Grant, Sump, Schoesler, Boldt, Mastin andMcMorris)
Read first time 03/02/1999.
     AN ACT Relating to state purchase of privately grown trout for
planting in state waters; adding new sections to Title 77 RCW; making
an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 1. The legislature finds that it is
beneficial to improve opportunities for trout fishing in order to
satisfy the public's demand for recreational fishing during a time of
declining opportunities to catch anadromous salmon and steelhead trout.
     Fish farmers can produce trout in a triploid genetic configuration
for the purpose of certifying that the fish are sterile and that they
cannot interbreed with wild trout.  These fish are ideally suited to
planting into public lakes and ponds to provide immediate recreational
fishing at a reasonable cost.  The fish continue to grow throughout
their life cycle and have the potential to grow to trophy size.
     Planting of these catchable trout can provide increased angler
participation, increased fishing license sales, increased tourism
activities, and a boost to local economies.
     The department of fish and wildlife is authorized to purchase these
privately produced fish to supplement existing department trout
hatchery production.  The planting of these catchable trout in water
bodies with water quality sufficient to support fish life must not have
an adverse impact on the wild trout population.
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 2.  The fish and wildlife commission in
consultation with the department is authorized to determine which
waters of the state are appropriate for this use during the 1999 and
2000 calendar years.  In making this determination, the commission
shall seek geographic distribution to assure opportunity to fishersstate-wide.
     The commission in consultation with the department will determine
the maximum number of fish that may be planted into state waters so as
not to compete with the wild populations of fish species in the waterbody.
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 3.  The department shall report to the
appropriate legislative committees by February 1, 2001, regarding the
implementation of this act.  The report shall include information
regarding the location and number of fish planted, the size of the fish
planted, and information relating to the cost-effectiveness of the
catchable trout program, including an estimate of new license sales
generated by the programs.
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 4.  The sum of . . . . . ., but not to exceed
$200,000 dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the
general fund to the department of fish and wildlife for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1999, to carry out the purposes of this act.
     The sum of . . . . . ., but not to exceed $200,000 dollars, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of fish
and wildlife for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, to carry out the purposes of
this act.
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 5.  Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to
Title 77 RCW.
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 6.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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