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Your
Voice Can Make The Difference Status of Bills Introduced in the 2011/2012 Legislative Session You can navigate to a specific bill by clicking on each bills title or scroll down to see all the bill summaries. Bills That Passed in 2011
Bills Reintroduced in 2012 SUPPORT
Bills That Passed in 2011 Senate bill 5065 passed the legislature and was signed by the governor on April 27th, 2011. The amendments contained in this bill strengthened our state's primary animal cruelty law, Chapter 16.52 RCW in the following ways: Bill Summary: The law prior to this amendment precluded animal cruelty
offenders from living with similar animals, which was defined as being in the
same genus as those they were convicted of abusing. Genus is a very narrow definition of similar
animals, meaning if a person is convicted of abusing a dog, they could still
own or reside with a cat. The amended
law rectifies this loophole by defining similar animals as being in the same
biological order for mammals and the same biological class for
non-mammals. This greatly broadens the
restriction on the types of animals an offender could continue to reside with
or own. The
law prior to this amendment prohibited a person convicted of animal cruelty
from owning or caring for similar animals for a specified period of time only if he or she had
animals seized and the court ordered those animals forfeited. The amended law expands this prohibition so
that a person convicted of animal cruelty cannot own or reside with a similar
animal for a specified period of time regardless of whether or not that
person had animals seized and ordered forfeited. The
law prior to this amendment had no penalty associated with the violation of
owning or residing with a similar animal for those convicted of animal
cruelty. The amended law imposes a
penalty for violating this prohibition. The
law prior to this amendment had inconsistent penalties for animal cruelty. Most forms of animal cruelty were treated as
animal cruelty in the second degree which resulted in a simple misdemeanor
(maximum of up to 90 days in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine). Only animal abandonment was treated as a gross
misdemeanor. The amended law treat’s all
cases of second degree animal cruelty as a gross misdemeanor. Save Washington Pets (also known as Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation) took the lead role in advocating for passage of a bill. Please see their website for more information http://savewashingtonpets.org/crueltybill.aspx Prime
Sponsors: Senator Mike Carrell (District
28) and Representative Mary Helen Roberts (District 21). Sponsors
- House of Representatives: Sam Hunt
(District 22), Mary Lou Dickerson
(District 36), Hans Dunshee (District
44), Joe Fitzgibbon (District 34), Cindy Ryu (District 32), Marcie Maxwell
(District 41), Pat Sullivan (District 47), Chris Reykdal (District 22), Laurie
Jinkins (District 27), Derek Stanford (District 1), Dave Upthegrove (District
33), Sherry Appleton (District 23), Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (District 46) Sponsors
- Senate: Mike Carrell (District
28), Adam Kline (District 37), Jeanne Kohl-Welles (District 36), Sharon Nelson
(District 34) Jerome Delvin (District 8), Rodney Tom (District 48), Paull Shin
(District 21), Rosemary McAuliffe (District 1), Derek Kilmer (District 26) Return to Top of the Page SSB 5356 passed the legislature and was signed by the governor on May 12, 2011. Effective July 22, 2011. Bill
Summary: The practice of shark finning, where a shark
is caught, its fins are sliced off while it is still alive, and the animal
returned to the sea, severely and almost always fatally wounded, constitutes a
serious threat to Washington's coastal ecosystem and biodiversity. SB5688 made it a class C felony to sell,
offer for sale, purchase, offer to purchase, or otherwise trades a shark fin or
shark fin derivative product; or the person prepares or processes a shark fin
or shark fin derivative product for human or animal consumption. http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/index.htm Prime Sponsor: Senator Kevin Ranker (District 40) Sponsors- Senators Dan Swecker
(District 20); Phil Rockefeller (District 23); Steve Litzow (District 41);
Paull Shin (District 21); Adam Kline (District 37) Return to Top of the Page
Bill Summary: The
overwhelming majority of laying hens used for commercial egg production in the
United States are confined in battery cages – cages that are so small they
prevent hens from performing the bulk of their natural behaviors, including
nesting, perching, dustbathing, scratching, foraging, exercising, running,
jumping, flying, wing-flapping, and freely walking. Despite this, millions of
cage-free laying hens are housed commercially in a way that affords them much
more freedom of movement, and it is important that industry strive for a system
in which all of the behavioral and physical needs of the hens can be met. The
inherent lack of space in caged systems makes this impossible. SB5487 stipulates that by August 1, 2012
all egg producers applying for a new master license or a renewal license shall
have a current certification under the 2010 version of the United Egg Producers
animal husbandry guidelines for United States egg laying flocks for
conventional cage systems or cage-free systems.
Further all cage systems installed after August 1st, 2011
must be approved by or convertible to the American Humane Association Facility
System plan for enriched colony housing.
This bill makes some gains for egg
laying hens, but continues to codify cage confinement rather than promotes cage
free systems. The United Egg Producers
are a trade group that represents egg factory farms and promotes the
confinement of hens in cages. You can go
to their website and see a clear example of the battery cages they promote as
“humane.” http://www.uepcertified.com/program/guidelines/categories/housing-space-feed-water SB5487 would in effect allow all existing battery cages to remain and only those cage systems installed after August 1st 2011 would be required to be approved by the American Humane Association Facility system. http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/confinement_farm/ Senate Prime Sponsor: Mark Schoesler (District 9)
SHB 1243 passed the legislature. Signed by the governor on April 14, 2011. Effective July 22, 2011. Bill Summary: SHB 1243 establishes a Class C felony when a person, with malice, kills or causes substantial bodily harm to livestock belonging to another person. “Livestock” is defined as including, but not limited to, horses, mules, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and bison. Prime Sponsor: Joel Kretz (District 7) Representatives: Brian Blake (District 19), Kathy Haigh (District 35), Norma Smith (District 19), Norm Johnson (District 14), Troy Kelley (District 28), Fred Finn (District 35), Judy Warnick (District 13), Jim Moeller (District 49), Paul Harris (District 17), Mary Helen Roberts (District 21), Jim McCune (District 2), Derek Stanford (District 1), Larry Haler (District 8), David Taylor (District 15), Cary Condotta (District 12) Bills Reintroduced in 2012 Companion Animal Spay/Neuter Assistance Legislation for Washington SB5151 / HB1266 SUPPORT Bill Summary: Tens of thousands of cats and dogs are euthanized every year in Washington State shelters. Nationwide, homelessness is the leading cause of death for cats and dogs. The cost to taxpayers runs in the millions of dollars to impound, care for, and euthanize these unwanted animals each year. In fact, handling an animal through animal control and sheltering organizations often costs more than it would to simply pay for that same animal’s spay/neuter surgery. The most humane and cost-effective long-term solution to this problem is to make spay/neuter surgery for cats and dogs affordable and accessible throughout Washington. We know that the cost of spay/neuter surgery is a significant barrier to many people who own or care for companion animals. SB 5151/HB 1226 would create a statewide spay/neuter surgery network that would make spay/neuter surgery available to low-income pet owners and to caretakers of feral or free-roaming cats. This bill would fund approximately 65,000 additional spay/neuter surgeries each year. The maximum co-payment would be $10 for cats spay/neuter surgery and $20 for a dog spay/neuter surgery. No copayment would be required for surgery performed on feral and free-roaming cats. This bill would be funded by a fee of 2.5 cents per pound of pet food and would be paid by companies that distribute pet food in Washington State. This is not a retail sales tax. This fee would provide a stable, adequate funding source to provide spay/neuter assistance throughout Washington. Status: HB 1226 was referred to the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee. A hearing was held in that committee on March 3, 2011. No further action was taken in 2011. Reintroduced in 2012 and retained in present status. Status: SB 5151referred to the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee. No further action was taken in 2011. Was reintroduced in 2012 and retained in present status. To find out more about this bill and ways to help get it passed in the state legislature, please go to: http://savewashingtonpets.org/default.aspx . For the full text of the bill and to track its progress please click on the above bill numbers. Prime Sponsors: Representative Hans Dunshee (District 44), Senator Maralyn Chase (District 32) Sponsors - House of Representatives: Joe Fitzgibbon District 34), Mary Helen Roberts (District 21) , Sam Hunt (District 22), Mary Lou Dickerson (District 36), Glenn Anderson (District 5), Cindy Ryu (District 32), Marcie Maxwell (District 41), Pat Sullivan (District 47), Chris Reykdal (District 22), Derek Stanford (District 1, Kathy Haigh (District 35), David Frockt (District 46), Sherry Appleton (District 23), Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (District 2), Eileen Cody (District 34), Sharon Tomiko Santos (District 37), Tami Green (District 28), Christine Rolfes (District 23) Sponsors - Senate: Ed Murray (District 43), Mary Margaret Haugen (District 10), Sharon Nelson (District 32), Adam Kline (District 37), Rodney Tom (District 48), Jeanne Kohl-Welles (District 36), Paull Shin (District 21), Steve Conway (District 29) Return to Top of the Page HB1755 / SB5649
This
bill seeks to restrict the inhumane practice of persistent and
continuous tethering of dogs. Dogs that are persistently tethered
are often isolated, neglected and unsocialized. Continuous
tethering has significant negative physical and psychological
impacts. The physical impacts include imbedded collars, straining
injuries and parasite infestation. These dogs are also vulnerable to
attack by predators, other dogs, and people who might abuse or tease
the dog. The psychological impacts include a thwarting of a dogs
natural instinct to investigate the environment, people or objects they
can see. This leads to a perpetual state of arousal, boredom and
frustration. These dogs are also unable to retreat from danger.
They lose their ability to choose flight over fight. Being unable
to flee from danger, their only choice is to fight, which leads to
territorial aggression. Tragically, children can become the victim of the dogs’ resulting anti-social behavior. From October 2003 through November 2010, there were at least 328 children killed or seriously injured by chained dogs across the country. Chained dogs are the leading cause of dog bites in children. Chained dogs are 2.5% more likely to cause fatal injury. There is also an established link between chained dogs and other human crimes such as drugs, dog fighting, cock fighting, and domestic violence. Because chained dogs can be considered outward visual ‘indicators’ to crimes, this bill would provide law enforcement with an additional tool to address public safety concerns, the neglect and abuse of the dog involved AND potentially identify domestic violence and/or child abuse within the home, drugs as well as animal fighting rings. HB 1755 is protective of dogs by limiting the number of hours a dog can be tethered to 10 hours consecutively or 10 hours in a 24 hour period and prohibits tethering from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. This limit stops dogs from living their life on a chain and encourages owners to interact with their dogs, rather than leaving them isolated. This would impact the dog’s psychological and physical well-being and would increase socialization, thus decreasing the conditions that make dogs reactive and an increased bite risk. This is a reasonable bill that allows dog owners the ability to use tethering as a method of restraining their dogs during the normal course of work and other matters that take them away from home. HB 1755 also allows for an exemption to be given to dog owners who have extenuating circumstances, such as working at night. Update 01/30/12: HB 1755 passed the House Judiciary Committee and has been referred to the Rules Committee for review. For the full text of the bill and to track its progress please click on the above bill numbers. Sponsors of House Bill 1755 Prime Sponsor: Representative Roger Goodman (District 45) Sponsors-House of Representatives: Joe Fitzgibbon (District 34), Hans Dunsee (District 44), Larry Springer (District 45), Glenn Anderson (District 5), Mary Lou Dickerson (District 36) and Sam Hunt (District 22). Sponsors of Senate Bill SB 5649 Prime Sponsor: Senator Nick Harper
(District 38) Paull Shin (District 21), Ed Murray (District 43), Sharon Nelson (District 34), Craig Pridemore (District 49), Maralyn Chase (District 32), Jeanne Kohl-Welles (District 36), Adam Kline (District 37) SUPPORT SB5144 creates a registry for animal abusers similar to the sexual offender registry. This bill would require those convicted of the crime of animal abuse to register with the attorney general. The benefit of an animal abuse registry is to notify the public for protection of themselves and their animals, restrict those convicted of animal abuse from adopting animals and serve as a possible early warning system for other crimes. Studies have shown that violent offenders often have a history of animal cruelty. Specifically, a history of animal abuse is found in 25% of male criminals, 30% of convicted child molesters, 36% of domestic violence cases and 46% of homicide cases. This is a bill that would protect both the animals and the people of this state. Status: HB 1800 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee in
2011 and no further action was taken. Reintroduced and retained in its present
status. Status: SB5144 was referred
to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2011 and no further action was taken. Reintroduced and retained in its present
status. For
more information on animal abuser registries please click on links below http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/14/animal-abuse-registry-suf_n_762905.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/us/22abuse.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
This legislation is sponsored by Pasado’s Safe Haven For the full text of the bill and to track its progress please click on the above bill numbers. Prime
Sponsor Senate: Rosemary McAuliffe (District 1) Sponsor-Senate:
Jeanne Kohl-Welles (District 36), Adam Kline (District 37), Sharon Nelson
(District 34), Karen Keiser (District 33), Rodney Tom (District 48), Paull Shin
(District 21), Steve Conway (District 29). Prime
Sponsor-House of Representative: Derek Stanford (District 1) Sponsors-House of Representatives: Luis Moscoso (District 1), Christine Rolfes (District 23), Kristine Lytton (District 40), Cindy Ryu (District 32), Joe Fitzgibbon (District 34). Bill Summary: These
companion bills were at the request of the Washington Department of Fish &
Wildlife. HB 2365 and SB 6139 would
decrease human conflicts with large wild carnivores (wild bear, cougars and
wolf). It accomplishes this by
prohibiting the feeding, attempted feeding and attracting large wild carnivores
to land or a building. This will prevent
individual animals from becoming habituated to humans. These bills also add the gray wolf to the
list of “big game species.” By doing
this it makes the illegal killing of a gray wolf a felony as opposed to
unlisted species where there is a lesser penalty. Finally, it supports the reimbursement to
livestock operators for losses incurred by large carnivore depredation, which
will hopefully build more tolerance for large carnivores. Status: HB2365 was referred to the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. It had a hearing in that committee on January 24 and is now scheduled for executive session on January 31st at 10:00 am. Update 02/03/12: A substitute bill (SHB 2365) passed the House Committee on General Government Appropriations & Oversight. The bill now goes to the Rules Committee SHB 2365:
By lowering the amount of the fine for killing a gray wolves to $1000.00, it implies that these animals are less important than other large predators. It also encourages the hunting of wolves since the fine is minimal. Wolf Haven’s position on the decreased fine: http://app.e2ma.net/app2/campaigns/archived/28823/3b568843a3291d487973cce1a3972353/ Status: SB6139 was referred to Energy, Natural Resources & Marine Waters Committee. A public hearing occurred on January 19th. Has not been scheduled for a vote at this time.Update 02/03/12: SB 6139 was passed by the Energy, Natural Resources 7 Marine Waters Committee in executive session and has been sent to the Rules Committee for a second reading. For the full
text of the bill and to track its progress please click on the above bill
numbers Prime Sponsor
HB2365: Representative Brian Blake
(District 19) Sponsors-House
of Representatives: Joel Kretz (District
7), Hans Dunshee (District 44), Jim McCune (District 2) Prime Sponsor
SB6139: Senator Christine Rolfes Sponsors-Senate: Kevin Ranker (District 40), Bob Morton (District 7), Paull Shin (District 21) OPPOSE In 1996
Washington State Voters overwhelmingly passed Initiative 655 banning the cruel
and inhumane practice of hound hunting of cougars, bear and bobcats. Hound
hunting uses dogs fit with radio collars who then track and “tree” the animal.
The hunters follow the dog’s radio signal and shoot the animal from the
tree. It also banned bear baiting, a
practice whereby food is provided at a specific location and as bears
acclimated to that site hunters would kill them as they fed. These methods of hunting give an unfair
advantage to the hunter and are used by trophy hunters to kill big game for
sport. They are banned in many
states. Provisions were made to remove
animals designated as a threat to humans or livestock. Since that
time the Washington State Legislature has instituted several laws that severely
weaken I-655. In 2004 two bills passed, one allowing a season for hound hunting
of cougars in areas where there was a perceived threat and the second
instituted a pilot program to allow cougar hunting seasons in five northeastern
counties. This was done despite the fact that I-655 allowed for the removal of
specific problem animals. The current
bill proposed HB 1124, completely overturns the initiative by again
re-instating the cruel and inhumane hound hunting of cougars throughout the
state. SB 5356 would authorize the
continued use of dogs to hunt cougars through a five-year pilot program
extension through July 2016. Cougar
hunting with dogs remains unfair and inhumane. This bill benefits a small group
of hunters and ranchers; it does not benefit Washington State. Status:
HB 1124 was heard in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee which passed a substitute bill and referred the bill to the Rules
Committee. No further action was taken
in 2011. Was reintroduced in 2012 and retained in present status. Status: A substitute bill (SSB 5356) was passed by the Senate and moved to the House, where it passed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and moved to back to the Senate Rules Committee. In the special session of December 2011, the Senate Rules committee was relieved of further consideration. On motion it was referred to Energy, Natural Resources & Marine Waters. Was reintroduced in 2012 and retained in present status. For more information please see these websites http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/hound_hunting/ http://bigwildlife.org/front_animal_page.php?page=6http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004285453_cougar16m.html For the full text of the bill and to track its progress please click on the above bill numbers. Prime Sponsor: Representative Brian Blake, (District 19) Sponsors
- House of Representatives: Joel Kretz (District 7), Bruce Chandler (District
15), David Taylor (District 15), Mike Armstrong (District 12), Bill Hinkle
(District13), Matt Shea (District 4), Jim McCune (District 2), Cary Condotta
(District 12) Prime Sponsor: Senator Bob Morton (District
7), Senators Dan Swecker (District 20), Doug Ericksen (District 42), Jerome Delvin (District 8), Brian Hatfield (District 19), Pam Roach (District 31) Initiative 713, the trapping ban, was approved by the
voters in 2000. This initiative banned
the use of body gripping traps, including the steel –jawed leg hold trap for
recreation and commerce in raw fur.
Body gripping traps kill, maim and cause immense suffering of both
wildlife and domestic animals caught in the traps. Animals can languish for days with
significant injury caused by these traps before they die on their own or are
dispatched by the trapper. There have
been attempts each year to re-instate the use of body gripping traps. In 2003 a bill was passed by the legislature
which in-effect repealed I-713. Then
Governor Gary Locke vetoed this bill because it flouted the will of the
voters. HB1137 again is making an
attempt to overturn the voter approved I-713.
This bill would allow the use of body-gripping traps including the
steel-jawed leg hold trap and neck snares, to any person who completes a course
in “safe, humane, and proper trapping.”
However, these traps are inherently cruel and inhumane. There is no safe, humane and proper trapping
for the animals caught in these traps. A second bill HB1138 goes a step farther and gives the
Fish and Wildlife Commission complete regulatory authority over the trapping of
wild animals in Washington State and re-establishes the commerce in raw fur
that was prohibited in I-713. Between
these two bills the mandate from Washington voters to stop the inhumane
trapping of animals for profit and sport, is completely eliminated. Status: HB 1137 was referred to the House
Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee, no further action was taken in
2011. Reintroduced in 2012 and retained in its present status. Status: HB 1138 was referred to the House
Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee, no further action was taken in
2011. Reintroduced in 2012 and retained in its present status. For more information on this bill and the use of body gripping traps, please see the following websites: For the full text of the bill and to
track its progress please click on the above bill numbers. Prime Sponsor HB 1137:
Representative Brian Blake Sponsors: Representatives Fred Finn (District 35), Dean Takko (District 19), Christopher Hurst (District 31), Shelly Short (District 7), Dan Kristiansen (District 39), Joel Kretz (District 7), Bruce Chandler (District 15), Jim McCune (District 2) Prime Sponsor HB 1138:
Representative Brian Blake Preparing for the epidemiological consequences of diseases related to wolf populations Concerning the State’s Management of Wolves Concerning legislative review of gray wolf conservation and management There are three bills, HB1107, HB1108 and HB1109,
introduced in 2011 that impact wolf recovery and management in the State of
Washington. In 2007 a seventeen member
Wolf Working Group (WWG) was established to collaborate with the Department of
Fish and Wildlife to create a balanced and comprehensive wolf conservation plan
based on sound science. This group, made
up of a diverse group of stakeholders, has worked together for three years and
has come to consensus on many contentious issues involving wolf management. The bills being introduce; HB1107, HB1108
and HB1109, would circumvent the work of the WWG and would take away
protections afforded to wolves under the WWG plan. The draft plan of the WWG does include a
generous compensation package for livestock losses due to wolf depredation. HB1107, the wolf disease bill would develop and implement
a plan to detect and assess epidemiological consequences of diseases that may
afflict or be carried by wolves and have a potential impact on human
health. Current information on diseases
carried by wolves indicates they are no different than those carried by
domestic dogs and other wild canines. HB1108 challenges the authority of the Federal Government
to impose wolves on the people of Washington; protect wolves; prevent,
prohibit, or suppress any state management of wolves; manage wildlife in
general within the borders of Washington State.
This bill is removes many protections for wolves and discards the plan
developed by the WWG in favor of having a legislature approved plan. HB 1109 makes the stipulation that the legislature must
approve or reject the department of fish and Wildlife’s recommended final
environmental impact statement and the gray wolf conservation and management
plan. This allows the legislature to
disregard the three years of work and research by the Wolf Working Group to
craft a plan based on sound science. It
places the approval of a wolf management plan back in the political arena of
the legislature. Status: HB 1107 & HB 1108 were referred to the
House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, no further action was
taken in 2011. Both bills were
reintroduced in 2012 and retained in present status. Status: A
hearing on HB 1109 was held in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural
Resources. No further action was taken
in 2011. Reintroduced in 2012 and
retained in present status. For more information click the link below for Wolf Haven
International. http://app.e2ma.net/app2/campaigns/archived/28823/ce3d86a5936ef7fce9af01eea39dd49f/ For the full text of the bill and to track its progress please click on the above bill numbers. Prime Sponsor for all three bills: Representative David Taylor (District 15) Sponsors-House of Representatives for HB1107 & HB1108:
Matt Shea (District 4), Jim McCune (District 2). Sponsors-House of Representatives for HB1109: Matt Shea (District 4), Jim McCune (District 2), Joel Kretz (District 7), Shelly Short (District 7), Cary Condotta (District 12) Regional Management of Mammalian Apex Predator OPPOSEBill Summary: This bill
would modify the current law regarding the listing of mammalian apex predators
(includes brown bears, gray wolves and coyotes), as endangered under the
State’s Endangered Species Act. Two new sections (sections 2 and 3) would be
added to RCW 77.12.020. Section 2 allows
the Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider petitions to remove the
designation of endangered species, on either a state or regional basis. In changing the designation the commission
would be directed to consider the whether the species is listed by the federal
endangered species act. Section 3 of HB
2214/SB6136 directs that the wildlife commission must suspend any management
plans or planning processes if the mammalian apex predator in question is not listed
as endangered by the federal endangered species act. HB 2214 and SB 6136 directly impact wolf recovery and
conservation in this state. It would
nullify the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, developed by the Wolf
Working Group over a 3 year period (see HB 1107, 1108 and 1109 above) as the
federal government has delisted the gray wolf in the eastern third of the state. Status: Was referred
to the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on January 9th
and a hearing was held in that committee on January 10th. Has not been scheduled for a vote at this
time. Status: SB
6136 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources & Marine Waters on February 1, 2012 at 8:00 am. For more information on wolf conservation, see the Department of Fish and Wildlife website: http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/ and Wolf Haven International For the full
text of the bill and to track its progress please click on the above bill
numbers. Prime
Sponsor: Representative Bruce Chandler,
(District 15) Sponsors
- House of Representatives: Brian Blake (District 19), David Taylor (District
15), Joel Kretz (District 7), Dean Takko (District19), Shelly Short (District 7),
Jim McCune (District 2), Joe Schmick (District 9), Dan Kristiansen (District
39). Prime Sponsor: Senator Bob Morton (District
7), Sponsors-Senate: Jerome Delvin (District 8), Steve Hobbs (District 44), Mark Schoesler (District 9). Providing an Affirmative Defense to the Unlawful Taking of Endangered Fish or Wildlife when the Incident Involves a Gray Wolf OPPOSE Bill Summary: SB6137, also targets the gray wolf. It specifically allows for an affirmative defense to prosecution when involved in killing a gray wolf under the following circumstances:
(An affirmative defense limits or excuses a person’s
culpability or civil liability based on allowing justification for the act;
self-defense is an example of affirmative defense.) This bill would create a loophole for the killing of gray
wolves. The act of killing a gray wolf
would even be justified if a person thought
an imminent attack might occur. It
is unclear what evidence would need to be present to make this conclusion. As of January 4th 2012 there were
only 27 wolves in Washington State. The
recovery of the gray wolf is still very tenuous in Washington and can easily be
wiped out. The Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife notes on their website that there are many
proactive measures that can be taken to help protect livestock that would
reduce their vulnerability to wolf depredation.
They also note in the draft wolf conservation and management plan,
technical assistance to institute these measures and allowance for non-lethal harassment
and even lethal control of problem wolves are included. Status: Referred to the Energy, Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee. A hearing occurred in that committee on January 19th. Has not been scheduled for a vote at this time. Update 02/03/12: A substitute bill (SSB 6137) passed the Energy Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee. SSB 6137:
Although,
a little better than the original bill, the bottom line is that SSB6137
still takes away the protection currently in place for the gray wolf,
leaving the small population of 27 wolves vulnerable to being killed. For more information on wolf conservation, see the Department of Fish and Wildlife website: ttp://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/ Wolf Haven International: For the full
text of the bill and to track its progress please click on the above bill
numbers. Prime Sponsor: Mark
Schoesler (District 9) Sponsors-Senate: Bob Morton (District 7), Brian Hatfield (District 19), Jerome Delvin (District 8), Jim Honeyford (District 15), Steve Hobbs (District 44). |
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