SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6603

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 5, 1998

Title:  An act relating to exceptions from vessel registration.

Brief Description:  Excepting certain vessels from registration.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn, Spanel, Oke and Wood.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/4/98, 2/5/98 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6603 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prince, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Goings, Haugen, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Morton, Oke, Prentice and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Jennifer Hanlon (786-7316)

Background:  Vessels owned by nonresidents, used for personal use and enjoyment, and validly registered in another state or country are allowed to remain in Washington for no more than six months before being required to register their vessels with the state of Washington.  Vessels used in nontransitory business are excluded from this exemption.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  To receive the current six-month exemption from registration, vessels must have been issued a valid registration number under federal law or by an approved issuing authority of the state of principal operation.  The requirement that vessels be registered in another country is eliminated. 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  An emergency clause is added.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is corrective legislation because a provision of the law conflicts with a law enacted in 1986.  The state will lose business brought by foreign vessels without this technical correction.  Without an emergency clause, Canadian vessels will begin receiving tickets March 2, 1998.  This could have an adverse impact on local marinas.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  John Woodring, private citizen (pro); Dale Jensen, private citizen (pro); Bill Wood, private citizen (pro).