SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2617

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 17, 2000

Title:  An act relating to vessels providing excursion services.

Brief Description:  Extending regulation of excursion cruise services.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Radcliff and Morris).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/17/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Costa, Eide, Heavey, Horn, Johnson, Morton, Patterson, Prentice, Sheahan, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Lynn Hale (786-7346)

Background:  In 1995, the Legislature passed Chapter 361, Laws of 1995, which enacted a limited prohibition against any vessel owner providing excursion service in Washington unless the owner had obtained a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Utilities and Transportation Commission.  The 1995 law was set to expire on January 1, 2001.

Summary of Bill:  The current limited prohibition on excursion service is extended until July 1, 2002.  The Legislative Transportation Committee must review the legal restrictions on excursion service as part of the task force on the Utilities and Transportation Commission.  The committee is directed to seek input from interested parties.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  It allows the Legislative Transportation Committee to study the issue of excursion service.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jim Boldt, Clipper Navigation (pro).