SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6159

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 3, 1992

Brief Description:  Reorganizing the recreational boating code.

SPONSORS: Senator Oke

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Barr, Conner, Owen, Snyder, and Sutherland.

Staff:  Ats Kiuchi (786‑7708)

Hearing Dates:  January 22, 1992

BACKGROUND:

The state's boating safety, environmental and registration programs have been the responsibility of the state Parks and Recreation Commission and local governments since 1984.  As the boating populace grew, so grew the administrative and management responsibilities.

As the needs arose, the Legislature kept pace to meet public concerns.  This resulted in a scattering of statutes in several chapters of the Revised Code of Washington.  Currently, the statutes on boating are in five different chapters.  A recodification to make the boating statutes easier and less cumbersome to administer is needed.

SUMMARY:

Chapter 88.12 RCW, the Regulation of Motor Boats, is recodified to include the following sections:

88.02 RCW - Water craft registration;

88.08 RCW - Specific acts prohibited;

88.20 RCW - Water craft adrift;

88.36 RCW - Boating safety and education;

43.51 RCW - Parks and Recreation Commission;

91.14 RCW - Passenger watercraft for hire.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Recodification will expedite the administration of the state boating laws.  Consolidation will also assist in local boating enforcement officials.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Nina Carter, State Parks and Recreation Commission; Jack Swanberg, Northwest Marine Trade Association