AN ACT Relating to watercraft; amending RCW 84.36.080, 88.02.040, and 88.02.050; adding new sections to chapter 88.02 RCW; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 82.49.010, 82.49.020, 82.49.030, 82.49.040, 82.49.050, 82.49.060, 82.49.070, 84.08.200, and 88.02.025.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 88.02 RCW to read as follows:

The fees for obtaining an identification number and certificate of registration under this chapter are as follows:

(1) Powered vessels less than sixteen feet in length, six dollars for each one-year period;

(2) Vessels sixteen feet or more in length but less than twenty-six feet, twelve dollars for each one-year period;

(3) Vessels twenty-six feet or more in length but less than thirty-six feet, eighteen dollars for each one-year period;

(4) Vessels thirty-six feet or more in length but less than forty-six feet, twenty-five dollars for each one-year period; and

(5) Vessels forty-six feet or more in length, fifty dollars for each one-year period.

Length is determined by means of a straight line measurement of the overall length from the foremost point of the vessel to the aftermost part of the vessel, measured parallel to the centerline. Bow sprits, bumpkins or boomkins, rudders, outboard motor brackets, and similar fittings or attachments are not included in the measurement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 88.02 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Moneys collected under section 1 of this act shall be deposited in the general fund. Moneys so collected shall be appropriated for the following purposes:

(a) To the department of licensing for the costs of administering the registration program; and

(b) To the parks and recreation commission for: (i) County and city marine boating safety patrols; (ii) construction, maintenance, and operation of boating facilities, including launching ramps and marine state parks; (iii) fishing enhancement and water clean-up projects; (iv) marine search and rescue operations; and (v) administration of a state-wide boating safety education program in accordance with RCW 43.51.400(1). The parks and recreation commission may make grants to local governments and other state agencies for the purposes specified in this subsection (b).

(2) The parks and recreation commission shall establish a boating advisory committee to advise the commission in the allocation of expenditures under subsection (1)(b) of this section. The committee shall consist of one representative of each of the following:

(a) Interclub Boating Association of Washington;

(b) Northwest Boating Council;

(d) United States Power Squadrons;

(e) Northwest Marine Trade Association;

(f) Washington State Sportsmen's Council;

(g) Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs;

(h) United States Coast Guard;

(i) Association of Washington Counties;

(j) Association of Washington Cities; and

(k) Washington Public Ports Association.

The representatives shall be appointed by the commission from lists submitted by the organization or agency.

The committee shall meet at least quarterly and, the members of the committee shall elect a chairperson from among themselves.

Members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses by the parks and recreation commission according to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

Sec. 3. Section 84.36.080, chapter 15, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 51, chapter 3, Laws of 1983 2nd ex. sess. and RCW 84.36.080 are each amended to read as follows:

All ships and vessels which are used exclusively for commercial fishing purposes or are exempt ((~~from excise tax under subsection (2) of RCW 82.49.020 and subsection (10) of~~)) from registration under RCW 88.02.030(10) shall be and are hereby made exempt from all ad valorem taxes, except taxes levied for any state purpose.

Sec. 4. Section 17, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 and RCW 88.02.040 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall provide for the issuance of vessel registrations and may appoint agents for collecting fees and issuing registration numbers and decals. ((~~Fees for vessel registrations collected by the director shall be deposited in the general fund.~~))

Sec. 5. Section 18, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 as amended by section 45, chapter 3, Laws of 1983 2nd ex. sess. and RCW 88.02.050 are each amended to read as follows:

Application for a vessel registration shall be made to the department or its authorized agent in the manner and upon forms prescribed by the department. The application shall state the name and address of each owner of the vessel and such other information as may be required by the department, shall be signed by at least one owner, and shall be accompanied by ((a)) the vessel registration fee ((~~of six dollars per year and the excise tax imposed under chapter 82.49 RCW~~)) imposed under section 1 of this 1985 act. Any fees required for licensing agents under RCW 46.01.140 shall be in addition to the ((~~six-dollar annual~~)) registration fee.

Upon receipt of the application and the registration fee, the department shall assign a registration number and issue a decal for each vessel. The registration number and decal shall be issued and affixed to the vessel in a manner prescribed by the department consistent with the standard numbering system for vessels set forth in volume 33, part 174, of the code of federal regulations. A valid decal affixed as prescribed shall indicate compliance with the annual registration requirements of this chapter.

The vessel registrations and decals are valid for a period of one year, except that the director of licensing may extend or diminish vessel registration periods, and the decals therefor, for the purpose of staggered renewal periods. For registration periods of more or less than one year, the department may collect prorated annual registration fees ((~~and excise taxes~~)) based upon the number of months in the registration period. Vessel registrations are renewable every year in a manner prescribed by the department upon payment of the vessel registration fee ((~~and excise tax~~)). Upon renewing a vessel registration, the department shall issue a new decal to be affixed as prescribed by the department.

A person acquiring a vessel from a dealer or a vessel already validly registered under this chapter shall, within fifteen days of the acquisition or purchase of the vessel, apply to the department or its authorized agent for transfer of the vessel registration, and the application shall be accompanied by a transfer fee of one dollar.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) Section 9, chapter 7, Laws of 1983, section 42, chapter 3, Laws of 1983 2nd ex. sess. and RCW 82.49.010;

(2) Section 43, chapter 3, Laws of 1983 2nd ex. sess., section 1, chapter 250, Laws of 1984 and RCW 82.49.020;

(3) Section 10, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 and RCW 82.49.030;

(4) Section 11, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 and RCW 82.49.040;

(5) Section 12, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 and RCW 82.49.050;

(6) Section 13, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 and RCW 82.49.060;

(7) Section 49, chapter 3, Laws of 1983 2nd ex. sess., section 4, chapter 250, Laws of 1984 and RCW 82.49.070;

(8) Section 5, chapter 250, Laws of 1984 and RCW 84.08.200; and

(9) Section 3, chapter 250, Laws of 1984 and RCW 88.02.025.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act shall not be construed as affecting any existing right acquired or liability or obligation incurred under the sections amended or repealed in this act or under any rule, regulation, or order adopted under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted under those sections.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.