BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to naming Washington state ferries; amending RCW 47.60.310; and adding a new section to chapter 47.60 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:

The legislature recognizes that since the Washington state ferry system is created by the taxpayers they should have a part in naming their investment. To that end, Washington state residents are encouraged to submit to the executive committee of the Washington state ferry users suggested names for Washington state ferries that will be commissioned. Suggestions must be of Washington state historical or cultural significance. Suggestions may not exceed three words and should be accompanied by an essay of no more than five hundred words explaining the suggested name's Washington state historical or cultural relevance. The executive committee will review conforming submissions and forward no more than three selections to the transportation commission for the final determinations.

Sec. 2. RCW 47.60.310 and 1988 c 100 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department is further directed to conduct such review by soliciting and obtaining expressions from local community groups in order to be properly informed as to problems being experienced within the area served by the Washington state ferries. In order that local representation may be established, the department shall give prior notice of the review to the ferry advisory committees.

(2) The legislative authorities of San Juan, Skagit, Clallam, and Jefferson counties shall each appoint a committee to consist of five members to serve as an advisory committee to the department or its designated representative in such review. The legislative authorities of other counties that contain ferry terminals shall appoint ferry advisory committees consisting of three members for each terminal area in each county, except for Vashon Island, which shall have one committee, and its members shall be appointed by the Vashon/Maury Island community council. At least one person appointed to each ferry advisory committee shall be representative of an established ferry user group or of frequent users of the ferry system. Each member shall reside in the vicinity of the terminal that the advisory committee represents.

(3) The members of the San Juan, Clallam, and Jefferson county ferry advisory committees shall be appointed for four-year terms. The initial terms shall commence on July 1, 1982, and end on June 30, 1986. Any vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the appointing authority. At least one person appointed to the advisory committee shall be representative of an established ferry-user group or of frequent users of the ferry system, at least one shall be representative of persons or firms using or depending upon the ferry system for commerce, and one member shall be representative of a local government planning body or its staff. Every member shall be a resident of the county upon whose advisory committee he or she sits, and not more than three members shall at the time of their appointment be members of the same major political party.

(4) The members of each terminal area committee shall be appointed for four-year terms. The initial terms of the members of each terminal area committee shall be staggered as follows: All terms shall commence September 1, 1988, with one member's term expiring August 31, 1990, one member's term expiring August 31, 1991, and the remaining member's term expiring August 31, 1992. Any vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the appointing authority. Not more than two members of any terminal-area committee may be from the same political party at the time of their appointment, and in a county having more than one committee, the overall party representation shall be as nearly equal as possible.

(5) The chairmen of the several committees constitute an executive committee of the Washington state ferry users. The executive committee shall meet twice each year with representatives of the marine division of the department to review ferry system issues. Additionally, as provided in section 1 of this act, the executive committee shall convene from time to time, as necessary, to review and select suggested names for ferries that will be commissioned.

(6) The committees to be appointed by the county legislative authorities shall serve without fee or compensation.