Alert SB 6813

ALERT - SB 6813 Transferring WDFW to the department of natural resources

GOAL Readers: I have been asked to pass this on by the Hunters Heritage Council. Because it is not directly firearms related, I have not included it in GOAL Post. But if passed it WILL impact many gun owners.

JW

SB 6813 Transferring various natural resources management duties to the department of natural resources is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Natural Resources committee next Wednesday morning (Feb 17) at 8 AM.

The general reaction to this measure from among the regulated communities when it was first introduced was universally negative. The fiscal note for the bill shows that there are no immediate financial benefits to the bill and only marginal (maybe) benefits in future years. The bill does not deal with the types of problems created by the merger years ago of the department of fish and department of game - with some unresolved problems today even after more then 10 years since the merger.

DNR is not a general authorities agency (an enforcement issue) hence the bill would create numerous wildlife enforcement issues across all elements of the regulated communities. Many of the comments forwarded when the bill focused on the measure being nothing but political "reform smoke and mirrors;" a bill "designed to eliminate citizen participation in wildlife management" and numerous, similar examples.

Members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee need to hear from groups and individuals ASAP with their opposition to the bill. the members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee are:

Senator Ken Jacobsen
237 John A. Cherberg Building
PO Box 40446
Olympia, WA 98504-0446
(360) 786-7690
Fax: (360) 786-1999
Web Email link at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/jacobsen.aspx

Senator Kevin Ranker
402 Legislative Building
PO Box 40440
Olympia, WA 98504-0440
(360) 786-7678
Web Email link at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/ranker.aspx

Senator Bob Morton
115D Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40407
Olympia, WA 98504-0407
(360) 786-7612
Fax: (360) 786-1999
Web Email link at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/morton.aspx

Senator Karen Fraser
404 Legislative Building
PO Box 40422
Olympia, WA 98504-0422
(360) 786-7642
Fax: (360) 786-1999
Web Email link at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/fraser.aspx

Senator Jim Hargrove
411 Legislative Building
PO Box 40424
Olympia, WA 98504-0424
(360) 786-7646
Fax: (360) 786-1323
Web Email link at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/hargrove.aspx

Senator Brian Hatfield
239 John A. Cherberg Building
PO Box 40419
Olympia, WA 98504-0419
(360) 786-7636
Web Email link at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/hatfield.aspx

Senator Val Stevens
105 Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40439
Olympia, WA 98504-0439
(360) 786-7676
Fax: (360) 786-7819
Web Email link at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/stevens.aspx

Senator Dan Swecker
103 Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40420
Olympia, WA 98504-0420
(360) 786-7638
Fax: (360) 786-1999
Web Email link at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/pages/swecker.aspx