77.12.670 - Migratory bird stamp/migratory bird license validations -- Deposit and use of revenues. - Washington Statutes

Migratory bird stamp/migratory bird license validations — Deposit and use of revenues.

(1) The migratory bird stamp to be produced by the department shall use the design as provided by the migratory waterfowl art committee.

     (2) All revenue derived from the sale of migratory bird license validations or stamps by the department to any person hunting waterfowl or to any stamp collector shall be deposited in the *state wildlife fund and shall be used only for that portion of the cost of printing and production of the stamps for migratory waterfowl hunters as determined by subsection (4) of this section, and for those migratory waterfowl projects specified by the director of the department for the acquisition and development of migratory waterfowl habitat in the state and for the enhancement, protection, and propagation of migratory waterfowl in the state. Migratory bird license validation and stamp funds may not be used on lands controlled by private hunting clubs or on private lands that charge a fee for public access. Migratory bird license validation and stamp funds may be used for migratory waterfowl projects on private land where public hunting is provided by written permission or on areas established by the department as waterfowl hunting closures.

     (3) All revenue derived from the sale of the license validation and stamp by the department to persons hunting solely nonwaterfowl migratory birds shall be deposited in the *state wildlife fund and shall be used only for that portion of the cost of printing and production of the stamps for nonwaterfowl migratory bird hunters as determined by subsection (4) of this section, and for those nonwaterfowl migratory bird projects specified by the director for the acquisition and development of nonwaterfowl migratory bird habitat in the state and for the enhancement, protection, and propagation of nonwaterfowl migratory birds in the state.

     (4) With regard to the revenue from license validation and stamp sales that is not the result of sales to stamp collectors, the department shall determine the proportion of migratory waterfowl hunters and solely nonwaterfowl migratory bird hunters by using the yearly migratory bird hunter harvest information program survey results or, in the event that these results are not available, other similar survey results. A two-year average of the most recent survey results shall be used to determine the proportion of the revenue attributed to migratory waterfowl hunters and the proportion attributed to solely nonwaterfowl migratory bird hunters for each fiscal year. For fiscal year 1998-99 and for fiscal year 1999-2000, ninety-six percent of the stamp revenue shall be attributed to migratory waterfowl hunters and four percent of the stamp revenue shall be attributed to solely nonwaterfowl migratory game hunters.

     (5) Acquisition shall include but not be limited to the acceptance of gifts of real estate or any interest therein or the rental, lease, or purchase of real estate or any interest therein. If the department acquires any fee interest, leasehold, or rental interest in real property under this section, it shall allow the general public reasonable access to that property and shall, if appropriate, ensure that the deed or other instrument creating the interest allows such access to the general public. If the department obtains a covenant in real property in its favor or an easement or any other interest in real property under this section, it shall exercise its best efforts to ensure that the deed or other instrument creating the interest grants to the general public in the form of a covenant running with the land reasonable access to the property. The private landowner from whom the department obtains such a covenant or easement shall retain the right of granting access to the lands by written permission, but may not charge a fee for access.

     (6) The department may produce migratory bird stamps in any given year in excess of those necessary for sale in that year. The excess stamps may be sold to the migratory waterfowl art committee for sale to the public.

[2002 c 283 § 2; 1998 c 191 § 32; 1987 c 506 § 53; 1985 c 243 § 4.]

Notes: *Reviser's note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.

Effective date -- 1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.050.

Legislative findings and intent -- 1987 c 506: See note following RCW 77.04.020.