Sultan resident turns idea into law

It was his first time at-bat, and Sultan resident Bob Klement knocked it out of the park.

Just a few short months ago, Klement had an idea for a piece of legislation that would give at-risk youth increased access to outdoor recreational activities, like fishing. He figured that if something could be done to streamline the licensing process and make it less cost-prohibitive, there was a real chance of being able to make a positive difference in the lives of teens in his community and in other communities around Washington state.

He pitched his idea to Sen. Kirk Pearson (R-Monroe), who liked the concept and decided to sponsor the legislation. Sen. Bob Hasegawa from the 11th District and 32nd District Sen. Maralyn Chase supported the legislation as co-sponsors.

Creating a law

Klement remained engaged throughout the process, helping to craft the legislation, which establishes that the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is required to provide a group fishing permit that can be used by any nonprofit organization operating a program oriented toward at-risk youth.

On Friday, April 24, Senate Bill 5881 was officially signed into law by Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee.

"This bill sponsored by Senator Pearson is a great idea for at-risk youth, for whom outdoor recreational experience really can be transformative,GÇ¥ Inslee said. "I want to thank Senator Pearson and everyone involved, this just sounds like a tremendous idea.GÇ¥

Ordinarily, fishing licenses vary in cost, depending on the type of the license. A freshwater license is $27.50, a saltwater license is $28.05, a combination license is $52.25 and a shellfish license is a separate expense. When helping to create the legislation, Klement wanted to make sure that the permits could be all-inclusive, so that the organizations taking advantage of them wouldn't be limited to one activity.

The legislation stipulates that, when a nonprofit agency obtains the group fishing permit, the department must also furnish the applicable catch record cards. Catch record cards work in conjunction with the actual fishing permit GÇô individuals who are fishing recreationally must have a catch record card in their possession when fishing for sturgeon, steelhead, salmon and halibut. The number of catch record cards per permit would be contingent on how many youth the organization was planning to work with.

Typically, when an individual purchases a fishing license, they also receive a catch record card. The cards are returned to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife by April 30 of each year, and the data is assimilated and used to estimate the recreational harvest of certain types of fish.

Helping local youth

Organizations like the Volunteers of America Western Washington, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County and the Edge Effect, located in Index, will be able to take advantage of the new law.

"It's a wonderful idea, and I think we're going to help some kids,GÇ¥ Pearson said.

Klement came up with the idea while attending Sultan Community Task Force meetings, a volunteer-driven organization in Sultan that was formed to address issues related to poverty, homelessness and at-risk youth. Since the group was formed last summer, there has been an added emphasis placed on mentorship, which resulted in the initiation of a youth task force. Local youth have even begun attending the task force meetings, which take place every Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Sultan City Hall (319 Main St.).

"If we can give these kids something else to do besides hang out in front of the library and everywhere else, we may start making some headway,GÇ¥ Klement said.

Volunteers of America Western Washington Director Calei Vaughn heads up the Community Task Force and has been actively working to locate volunteer mentors for local teens.

"Bob was at youth task force, and we were trying to figure out activities for the youth to do where mentors could become involved with them,GÇ¥ Vaughn said. "He mentioned that he likes to fish and that some of the kids here might like to fish, but the cost of the fishing license was just something that they couldn't afford.GÇ¥

Passing along knowledge

For Klement, a disabled combat veteran, fishing is a soothing pastime that gives him the opportunity to relax. Fishing can be a mindless hobby, Klement explained, or it can be a strategic pastime filled with challenge. Similar to the way gold prospectors learn to read a river to determine where there might be gold, Klement has learned to analyze the local waters to discover where there might be fish.

Things like water temperature, feeding habits, speed of the current and depth of the river all come into play when "reading the watersGÇ¥ to figure out where the fish will be.

"Those are all things that you can pass on to these kids,GÇ¥ Klement said. "If you're going to get serious about fishing, there's a lot to really learn.GÇ¥

The City of Sultan has struggled with issues related to at-risk youth, and many residents are accustomed to the teenagers who tend to cluster in front of City Hall. Klement is hopeful that, through mentorship, he can pass along his love of fishing to others, becoming a positive influence.

"If I can pass this on to these kids, then that's my legacy,GÇ¥ Klement said. "It's one thing I can do to give back.GÇ¥

During the bill-signing ceremony in Olympia on Friday, April 24, legislators told Klement that having a bill become a law so soon after being introduced is a significant accomplishment. In odd-numbered years, an average of 2,442 bills are introduced during the 105-day session, many of which die before ever reaching the floor for a vote. But SB 5881 turned out to be a home run.

"This is somewhat of an anomaly,GÇ¥ said 39th District Rep. Dan Kristiansen, who helped move the bill through on the House side.

Fishing season at the local rivers starts in early June and stretches until around mid-February. Pearson and Hasegawa plan to work together to see that the bill is implemented as seamlessly as possible.

"In about 10 or 20 years, we'll look back and this will be one of the best things we've done for youth,GÇ¥ Pearson said.

For more information on fishing in the state of Washington, visit wdfw.wa.gov.