HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6532

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to exceptions from vessel registration.

Brief Description:  Extending an exception from vessel registration.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Owen, Oke, Spanel and Fraser).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/20/96, 2/26/96 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 22 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Skinner, Vice Chairman; R. Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Hatfield, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Blanton; Buck; Cairnes; Chopp; Elliot; Hankins; Horn; Johnson; McMahan; Ogden; Patterson; Robertson; Romero; D. Schmidt; Scott and Tokuda.

Staff:  Gary Lebow (786-7304).

Background:  A vessel that has a valid registration number under federal law or by an approved issuing authority of the state of principal operation is exempt from vessel registration in the state of Washington.  A vessel that is validly registered in another state but is removed to this state for principal use has 60 days to register with this state.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Vessels that are owned by nonresidents, are used for personal use and enjoyment, and are validly registered in another state are allowed to remain within this state for no more than six months before being required to be registered with Washington State.  This exemption will be valid until July 1, 1999.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The 60-day requirement to register a vessel remains intact for residents of Washington State.  An exemption of up to six months is granted to nonresidents on vessels used for personal use and enjoyment.  Commercial vessels are explicitly excluded from this exemption.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Extending the exemption period to six months will allow vessel owners to moor their boats over the winter, thereby increasing business and jobs for marinas.  It will also bring in more boats during the boating season, thereby creating more business and revenues for the state.

Testimony Against:  It will be next to impossible to enforce vessel registration given a six-month exemption period because the boating season is only five months long.

Testified:  Jack Swanberg, Northwest Marine Trade Association (pro); Eric Johnson, Washington Public Ports Association (pro); Brian Calvert, Port of Friday Harbor (pro); and Gerald Lawrence, Washington Boating Safety Officers' Association (con).