Senate Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation Committee Takes Executive Action on SB 6448

In an executive session at 8:00 a.m. this morning, the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation Committee issued a majority report that a substitute version of SB 6448 (see posts here, here, and here) be passed and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

I have not been able to find the actual text of this substitute bill but, according to the "Senate Bill Report" issued today, the proponents of this legislation have backed down on the levying of a fee for the Gold and Fish pamphlet. The pertinent statements are (emphasis added):

Exempts from the fees activities conducted under: the Family Forest Fish Passage Program; a pamphlet permit for removing and controlling noxious weeds or small scale prospecting and mining; and an approved forest practices permit. (page 2)

and

exempts from HPA fees pamphlet permits, Family Forest Fish Passage Projects, and activities conducted under an approved forest practices permit; (page 3)

Horrendous fees would apparently still apply to individual HPAs.

Even with these changes, this bill is still a camel's nose under the tent in that future circumstances could always be called upon to "justify" extending the fees to pamphlet permits in the interests of some misguided concept of "fairness."

Also of note on pages 3 and 4 of the report were names of the persons testifying on the original bill at the public hearing on January 20: in favor -- one person from the Governor's office and two from WDFW; against -- nine people (including five representing pro-mining organizations).

You can download and read this report for yourself from the links here and (less directly) here.