H-3602              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1669

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Fisch, Hargrove, Gallagher, Walk, Basich and Valle

Read first time 1/21/86 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to pilots; and amending RCW 88.16.100.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 13, chapter 18, Laws of 1935 as last amended by section 36, chapter 67, Laws of 1981 and RCW 88.16.100 are each amended to read as follows:

          The board shall have power on its own motion or, in its discretion, upon the written request of any interested party, to investigate the performance of pilotage services subject to this chapter and the performance of state licensed pilots on coastwise or enrolled vessels, and to suspend, withhold, or revoke the license of any pilot for misconduct, incompetency, inattention to duty, intoxication, or failure to perform his duties under this chapter, or violation of any of the rules or regulations provided by the board for the government of pilots.  When the board determines that reasonable cause exists to suspend, revoke, or withhold any pilot's license it shall forthwith prepare and personally serve upon such pilot a notice advising him of the board's intended action, the specific grounds therefor, and the right to request a hearing to challenge the board's action.  The pilot shall have thirty days from the date on which notice is served to request a full hearing before an administrative law judge on the issue of suspension, revocation, or withholding of his pilot's license.  The board's proposed suspension, revocation, or withholding of a license shall become final upon the expiration of thirty days from the date notice is served, unless a hearing has been requested prior to that time.  When a hearing is requested the board shall request the appointment of an administrative law judge under chapter 34.12 RCW who has sufficient experience and familiarity with pilotage matters to be able to conduct a fair and impartial hearing.  The hearing shall be governed by the provisions of Title 34 RCW.  All final decisions of the administrative law judge shall be subject to review by the superior court of the state of Washington for Thurston county or by the superior court of the county in which the pilot maintains his residence or principal place of business, to which court any case with all the papers and proceedings therein shall be immediately certified by the administrative law judge if requested to do so by any party to the proceedings at any time within thirty days after the date of any such final decision.  No appeal may be taken after the expiration of thirty days after the date of final decision.  Any case so certified to the superior court shall be tried de novo and after certification of the record to said superior court the proceedings shall be had as in a civil action.