SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5254

                    AS OF JANUARY 28, 1993

Brief Description:  Providing a funding mechanism for the office of marine safety's field operations.

SPONSORS: Senators Fraser, Barr, Owen and Talmadge; by request of Office of Marine Safety

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Staff:  Shannon Murphy (786‑7483)

Hearing Dates: February 1, 1993

BACKGROUND:

In 1991 the Office of Marine Safety was established to promote the safety of marine transportation.  The office is responsible for providing leadership and coordination in identifying and resolving threats to the safety of marine transportation.  The office is directed to assess the impact of marine transportation on the environment.  The office works in cooperation with federal, state and local governments to implement marine safety measures.

SUMMARY:

The Office of Marine Safety is directed to implement a field operations program.  The program is responsible for coordinating marine safety regulations with the maritime community, federal and state agencies and the public.

The oil spill response tax imposed on oil or petroleum products delivered to marine terminals in the state is lowered from two cents per barrel of crude oil or petroleum product to one and six-tenths cents per barrel.

The oil spill administration tax imposed on oil or petroleum products delivered to marine terminals in the state is raised from three cents per barrel of crude oil or petroleum product to three and four-tenths cents per barrel.  All receipts from taxes received from the oil spill administration tax are to be deposited in the oil spill administration account.

An assessment is levied on covered vessels.  A covered vessel is a tank, cargo or a passenger vessel.  The assessment is payable when the covered vessel moors or docks in Washington waters.  Each covered vessel, its tackle, apparel and furniture, as well as, the vessel's owner and operator are jointly and severally liable for the assessment.  If the owner or operator fails to pay the assessment in a timely manner, the state will have a lien on the vessel for the amount owed.  The Administrator of the Office of Marine Safety is authorized to assess penalties of up to $10,000 per assessment and costs of collection against a vessel's owner or operator for failure to pay an assessment when due.

Assessments collected by the Washington State Maritime Commission are to be held in trust until deposited into the oil spill administration account.  All penalties and interest imposed on covered vehicles are to be deposited into the state general fund.  The commission is required to make monthly and annual accountings to the Office of Marine Safety.  

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 22, 1993

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1993.