Return of certain licenses upon termination of employment relationship.
RCW 77.65.600
in effect(1) Upon termination of the employment relationship by an employee or by an employing person, firm, or business, the employee shall return to the person, firm, or business who purchased the license on the employee's behalf any license described in subsection (2) of this section that the employee possesses. (2) This section applies to the following types of licenses if the following types of licenses are purchased by a person, firm, or business on behalf of an employee of that person, firm, or business: (a) A food fish guide license issued under RCW 77.65.370 ; and (b) A game fish guide license issued under RCW 77.65.480 . (3) Any license described in subsection (2) of this section that is returned to the person, firm, or business who purchased the license pursuant to this section is transferable to another employee of the person, firm, or business who qualifies for a license under RCW 77.65.050 and 77.65.560 . (4)(a) An employee who fails to return a license as provided in this section shall pay to the person, firm, or business who purchased the license on the employee's behalf an amount equal to the full amount of the license fee and any application fee paid. (b) A license possessed by an employee who fails to return the license as provided in this section or to pay the person, firm, or business who purchased the license on the employee's behalf as provided in (a) of this subsection is invalidated. (5) For the purposes of this section, "purchased" means the payment of the full amount of the license fee and any application fee applicable to the license.
(1) Upon termination of the employment relationship by an employee or by an employing person, firm, or business, the employee shall return to the person, firm, or business who purchased the license on the employee's behalf any license described in subsection (2) of this section that the employee possesses.
(2) This section applies to the following types of licenses if the following types of licenses are purchased by a person, firm, or business on behalf of an employee of that person, firm, or business:
(a) A food fish guide license issued under RCW 77.65.370 ; and
(b) A game fish guide license issued under RCW 77.65.480 .
(3) Any license described in subsection (2) of this section that is returned to the person, firm, or business who purchased the license pursuant to this section is transferable to another employee of the person, firm, or business who qualifies for a license under RCW 77.65.050 and 77.65.560 .
(4)(a) An employee who fails to return a license as provided in this section shall pay to the person, firm, or business who purchased the license on the employee's behalf an amount equal to the full amount of the license fee and any application fee paid.
(b) A license possessed by an employee who fails to return the license as provided in this section or to pay the person, firm, or business who purchased the license on the employee's behalf as provided in (a) of this subsection is invalidated.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "purchased" means the payment of the full amount of the license fee and any application fee applicable to the license.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.65&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026