H-4427.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2929

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Representative Kremen

Read first time 01/31/92.  Referred to Committee on Transportation. Requiring vessels transporting primarily freight on state waters to have a certificate of public necessity.

     AN ACT Relating to vessels hauling freight in a regulated launch service on state waters; amending RCW 81.84.010; and prescribing penalties.

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

     Sec. 1.  RCW 81.84.010 and 1961 c 14 s 81.84.010 are each amended to read as follows:

     No steamboat company shall hereafter operate any vessel or ferry for the public use for hire between fixed termini or over a regular route upon the waters within this state, including the rivers and lakes and Puget Sound, without first applying for and obtaining from the commission a certificate declaring that public convenience and necessity require such operation((:  PROVIDED, That no certificate shall be required for a vessel primarily engaged in transporting freight other than vehicles, whose gross earnings from the transportation of passengers and/or vehicles, are not more than ten percent of the total gross earnings of such vessel:  PROVIDED, That)).  Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the right of any county within this state to construct, condemn, purchase, operate or maintain, itself or by contract, agreement or lease, with any person, firm or corporation, ferries or boats across or wharfs at or upon the waters within this state, including rivers and lakes and Puget Sound, provided such operation is not over the same route or between the same districts, being served by a certificate carrier, nor shall this chapter be construed to affect, amend or invalidate any contract entered into prior to January 15, 1927, for the operation of ferries or boats upon the waters within this state, which was entered into in good faith by any county with any person, firm, or corporation, except that in case of the operation or maintenance by any county, city, town, port district, or other political subdivision by contract, agreement, or lease with any person, firm, or corporation, of ferries or boats across or wharfs at or upon the waters within this state, including rivers and lakes and Puget Sound, the commission shall have power and authority to regulate rates and services of such operation or maintenance of ferries, boats, or wharfs, to make, fix, alter or amend said rates, and to regulate service and safety of operations thereof, in the manner and to the same extent as it is empowered to regulate a steamboat company, notwithstanding the provisions of any act or parts of acts inconsistent herewith.