AN ACT Relating to vessel pilots' licenses; and amending RCW 88.16.090.

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

Sec. 1. Section 8, chapter 18, Laws of 1935 as last amended by section 1, chapter 303, Laws of 1981 and RCW 88.16.090 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) No person may pilot any vessel subject to the provisions of this chapter on waters covered by this chapter unless such a person is appointed and licensed to pilot such vessels on said waters under and pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(2) No person is eligible to be appointed a pilot unless such a person is a citizen of the United States, over the age of twenty-five years and under the age of seventy years and a resident of the state of Washington at the time of appointment, nor unless the pilot applicant holds as a minimum, a United States government license as a master of freight and towing vessels not more than one thousand gross tons (inspected vessel) or a master of fishing vessels not more than one thousand gross tons (uninspected vessel), ((~~such~~)) either license to have been held by the applicant for a period of at least two years prior to taking the Washington state pilotage examination and a first class United States endorsement without restrictions on that license to pilot in the pilotage districts for which the pilot applicant desires to be licensed, nor unless the pilot applicant meets such other qualifications as may be required by the board. If the requirement that the applicant be licensed for at least two years before taking the Washington state pilotage examination is fulfilled while in the United States Coast Guard, the determination of creditable time by the United States Coast Guard shall be prima facie evidence of creditable time.

(3) Pilots shall be licensed hereunder for a term of five years from and after the date of the issuance of their respective state licenses. Such licenses shall thereafter be renewed as of course, unless the board shall withhold same for good cause. Each pilot shall pay to the state treasurer an annual license fee established by the board of pilotage commissioners pursuant to chapter 34.04 RCW, but not to exceed one thousand dollars, to be placed in the state treasury to the credit of the pilotage account. The board may assess partially active or inactive pilots a reduced fee.

(4) Pilot applicants shall be required to pass a written and oral examination administered and graded by the board which shall test such applicants on this chapter, the rules of the board, local harbor ordinances, and such other matters as may be required to compliment the United States examinations and qualifications.

(5) On and after September 21, 1977, the board shall have developed five examinations and grading sheets for the Puget Sound pilotage district, and two for each other pilotage district, for the testing and grading of pilot applicants. The examinations shall be administered to pilot applicants on a random basis and shall be updated as required to reflect changes in law, rules, policies, or procedures. The board may appoint a special independent examination committee or may contract with a firm knowledgeable and experienced in the development of professional tests for development of said examinations. Active licensed state pilots may be consulted for the general development of examinations but shall have no knowledge of the specific questions. The pilot members of the board may participate in the grading of examinations. If the board does appoint a special examination development committee it is authorized to pay the members of said committee the same compensation and travel expenses as received by members of the board. When grading examinations the board shall carefully follow the grading sheet prepared for that examination. The board shall develop a "sample examination" which would tend to indicate to an applicant the general types of questions on pilot examinations, but such sample questions shall not appear on any actual examinations. Any person who wilfully gives advance knowledge of information contained on a pilot examination is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

(6) All pilots and applicants are subject to an annual physical examination by a physician chosen by the board. The physician shall examine the applicant's heart, blood pressure, circulatory system, lungs and respiratory system, eyesight, hearing, and such other items as may be prescribed by the board. After consultation with a physician and the United States coast guard, the board shall establish minimum health standards to ensure that pilots licensed by the state are able to perform their duties.

(7) The board shall prescribe, pursuant to chapter 34.04 RCW, a number of familiarization trips, between a minimum number of twenty-five and a maximum of one hundred, which pilot applicants must make in the pilotage district for which they desire to be licensed. Familiarization trips any particular applicant must make are to be based upon the applicant's vessel handling experience.