The bill amends RCW 77.36.100 to enhance the compensation process for livestock owners who experience damage due to wolf predation. It establishes criteria for claims related to both direct and indirect damages, with a specific focus on indirect damage claims, which include losses from harassment by wolves that affect livestock weight gains and pregnancy rates. The bill mandates that the commission adopt rules to clarify the criteria for damage claims, ensuring that a minimum economic loss of $500 is required for compensation eligibility. Additionally, it introduces a new process for determining indirect damage claims by comparing current year losses to average annual losses from the year of the first confirmed wolf depredation and the two preceding years.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the conditions under which the department can provide compensation for wildlife interactions affecting property other than commercial crops or livestock, as well as the provision of materials or services to mitigate wildlife interactions. It also establishes an appeals process for denied claims and sets limits on the department's expenditures for claims and assessments. The bill emphasizes that claims are contingent on the availability of specific funding and that unpaid claims may be carried over to the next fiscal year, subject to legislative appropriations.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 77.36.100
Substitute Bill: 77.36.100