SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6341

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Natural Resources & Parks, February 5, 1998

Title:  An act relating to alternate operator licenses.

Brief Description:  Allowing certain charter boats to be operated by persons without an alternate operator's license in specific circumstances.

Sponsors:  Senator Snyder.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  1/30/98, 2/5/98 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6341 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  Paul Mabrey (786-7412)

Background:  A commercial license is required to engage in the operation of a charter boat.  When applying for a commercial license to operate a charter boat, the applicant may designate a vessel and up to two alternate operators.  A persons who is not the holder of the commercial charter boat license may operate the vessel designated on the license only if (1) the person holds an alternative operator license and (2) the person is designated as an alternative operator on the underlying commercial charter boat license.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Licensed charter boat operators are permitted to designate persons who do not have an alternative operator=s license to operate their charter boats.  The applicant for a commercial charter boat license need not designate a vessel to be used with the license or designate an alternative operator at the time of application.  A person designated by a commercial charter boat license holder is not required to hold an alternative operator=s license or to be designated on the underlying license as an alternative operator in order to operate the charter boat.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Minor language changes add clarification to the intent of the bill.  An emergency clause is added.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 26, 1998.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  Department officials and industry representatives all concur that this bill is needed as a practical matter and that there would be no adverse effect on charter boat operational safety.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO: Butch Smith, Ilwaco Charter Association; Milton Gudgell, Pacific Salmon Charters; Mark Cedergreen, Westport Charter Association; Michael Jablinske, Puget Sound Charter Association; Don Gatlin, WDFW; Ed Owens, commercial fishing.