PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
COMMISSION
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The agency is considering a review of chapter 352-65 WAC, Boating safety program approval; chapter 352-70 WAC, The state boating accident reporting program; and chapter 352-78 WAC, Boating safety education program.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 79A.05 RCW, Parks and recreation commission, including: RCW 79A.05.030 and 79A.05.070 and chapter 79A.60 RCW, Regulation of recreational vessels.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: State parks is prepared to review three chapters of administrative rules governing recreational boating safety programs and related procedures to help ensure the commission's rules are consistent with federal regulations and employ the most effective and efficient administrative practices and procedures. The review will clarify administrative practices and procedures and will make corrections to rules in order to bring rules up-to-date with current practices, terminology and requirements in all applicable statutes and regulations.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Coast Guard (USCG), Department of Homeland Security administers the Code of Federal Regulations specific to Vessel Numbering and Casualty and Accident Reporting as contained in Title 33 C.F.R. PART 173 -- VESSEL NUMBERING AND CASUALTY AND ACCIDENT REPORTING. The Washington state parks and recreation commission coordinates all regulations for recreational boating safety and boating accident reporting with the USCG under the provisions of a memorandum of agreement.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mark Kenny, Washington State Parks, P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, phone (360) 586-6593, fax (360) 586-6603, e-mail mark.kenny@parks.wa.gov.
July 28, 2008
Jim French
Chief of Policy Research
and Program Development