OLYMPIA — To no one’s surprise, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday approved a statement objecting to proposed legislation reducing its authority.
A provision of Senate Bill 5669 would eliminate the commission’s authority to set regulations plus hire and fire the director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The commission would become advisory.
Changing the system of governing fish and wildlife issues would reverse Referendum 45, approved by voters in 1995 to give the commission — not the governor — authority.
The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor, also has concerns over provisions that consolidate the Department of Fish and Wildlife with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Recreation Conservation Office.
