BILL REQ. #:  H-1883.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/01/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to geoduck diver licenses; amending RCW 77.65.410; reenacting and amending RCW 79.135.210; adding a new section to chapter 77.65 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 43.30 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.65.410 and 1993 c 340 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) Every diver engaged in the commercial harvest of subtidal geoduck clams shall obtain a ((nontransferable)) geoduck diver license. An individual may only own one license and all geoduck harvesting performed under the license must be done personally by the actual license holder.
     (b) The licensing requirement created in this section does not apply to divers engaged in activities related to the cultivation of geoduck clams as private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020.
     (c) The geoduck diver license is a nontransferable license.
     (2) Beginning January 1, 2015, the director may not issue more than seventy-seven geoduck diver licenses in any one year.
     (3) The annual geoduck diver license fee is as provided in RCW 77.65.440.
     (4) A geoduck diver license expires on December 31st of each year. Prior to the license's expiration, a license holder may apply to renew the license holder's geoduck diver license only if the license holder is included on a department of natural resources' geoduck harvest agreement plan of operation during the applicable current calendar year.
     (5) Beginning January 1, 2015, each person applying for or renewing a geoduck diver license under this section must complete the geoduck diver safety program established in section 5 of this act prior to being issued a license.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The director of the department of fish and wildlife shall give individuals who held a geoduck diver license in 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014, and who were listed on a department of natural resources' geoduck harvest agreement plan of operation during the same period, the right of first refusal to purchase a geoduck diver license for the 2015 license year.
     (2) Any license holder who qualifies for the right of first refusal under this section must have his or her intent to purchase a geoduck diver license in 2015 known to the director of the department of fish and wildlife within six months of the effective date of this section.
     (3) This section expires June 30, 2016.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 77.65 RCW to read as follows:
     The department must revoke a geoduck diver license issued under RCW 77.65.410, and the licensee must surrender the license, if the licensee is found in violation of a department of natural resources' geoduck harvest agreement two or more times. The person surrendering the geoduck diver license may not hold another geoduck diver license for a period of one calendar year from the date the license is surrendered.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 43.30 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall establish a geoduck harvest safety committee. The geoduck harvest safety committee consists of one representative from the department, one representative from the department's geoduck diver advisory committee, one representative from an organization representing the interests of geoduck harvesters, and one representative from an organization representing the interests of geoduck divers. Each representative must be appointed by the administrator.
     (2) The geoduck harvest safety committee must meet at least quarterly. By December 1, 2013, the committee must submit a recommendation to the department regarding the establishment of a geoduck diver safety program and safety requirements for geoduck divers licensed under RCW 77.65.410.
     (3) Upon the establishment of the geoduck diver safety program under section 5 of this act, the geoduck harvest safety committee must continue to review and evaluate the safety program's success and effectiveness and recommend to the department appropriate changes to improve the geoduck diver safety program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 43.30 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By December 1, 2014, the department must, by rule, create a geoduck diver safety program and establish safety requirements for geoduck divers licensed under RCW 77.65.410. The department must adopt rules based on the recommendation of the geoduck harvest safety committee established in section 4 of this act.
     (2) The department may adopt, amend, or repeal rules as needed to ensure the success and effectiveness of the geoduck diver safety program created under subsection (1) of this section. The department must consider the recommendations provided by the geoduck harvest safety committee under section 4(3) of this act.
     (3) The department may not adopt rules in conflict with safety standards established by the department of labor and industries under RCW 49.17.040.
     (4) A civil suit or action may not be commenced or prosecuted against the director, department, or any other government officer or entity by reason of any actions taken in connection with the adoption or enforcement of the geoduck diver safety program and safety requirements established under subsections (1) and (2) of this section. The state of Washington does not waive its sovereign immunity with respect to any actions taken by the department under this section.

Sec. 6   RCW 79.135.210 and 2005 c 155 s 708 and 2005 c 113 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in RCW 79.135.040, geoducks shall be sold as valuable materials under the provisions of chapter 79.90 RCW. After confirmation of the sale, the department may enter into an agreement with the purchaser for the harvesting of geoducks. The department may place terms and conditions in the harvesting agreements as the department deems necessary. The department may enforce the provisions of any harvesting agreement by suspending or canceling the harvesting agreement or through any other means contained in the harvesting agreement. Any geoduck harvester may terminate a harvesting agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection if actions of a governmental agency, beyond the control of the harvester, its agents, or its employees, prohibit harvesting, for a period exceeding thirty days during the term of the harvesting agreement, except as provided within the agreement. Upon termination of the agreement by the harvester, the harvester shall be reimbursed by the department for the cost paid to the department on the agreement, less the value of the harvest already accomplished by the harvester under the agreement.
     (2) Harvesting agreements under this title for the purpose of harvesting geoducks shall require the harvester and the harvester's agent or representatives to comply with all applicable commercial diving safety standards and regulations promulgated and implemented by the federal occupational safety and health administration established under the federal occupational safety and health act of 1970 as the law exists or as amended (84 Stat. 1590 et seq.; 29 U.S.C. Sec. 651 et seq.). However, for the purposes of this section and RCW 77.60.070, all persons who dive for geoducks are deemed to be employees as defined by the federal occupational safety and health act. All harvesting agreements shall provide that failure to comply with these standards is cause for suspension or cancellation of the harvesting agreement. Further, for the purposes of this subsection if the harvester contracts with another person or entity for the harvesting of geoducks, the harvesting agreement shall not be suspended or canceled if the harvester terminates its business relationship with such an entity until compliance with this subsection is secured.
     (3) Beginning January 1, 2015, geoduck divers licensed under RCW 77.65.410 must annually complete the geoduck diver safety program established in section 5 of this act in order to be maintained on a department of natural resources' harvest agreement plan of operation.