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                    ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6194

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State of Washington   57th Legislature 2001 Second Special Session

By Senators Snyder, Hargrove and T. Sheldon

Read first time 06/04/2001.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Authorizing port districts to provide pilots in Grays Harbor.

    AN ACT Relating to authorizing the provision of pilotage services in the Grays Harbor pilotage district by port districts; adding new sections to chapter 53.08 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 53.08 RCW to read as follows:

    A countywide port district located in part or in whole within the Grays Harbor pilotage district, as defined by RCW 88.16.050(2), may commence pilotage service with the following powers and subject to the conditions contained in this section.

    (1) Persons employed to perform the pilotage service of a port district must be licensed under chapter 88.16 RCW to provide pilotage.

    (2) Before establishing pilotage service, a port district shall give at least sixty days' written notice to the chairman of the board of pilotage commissioners to provide pilotage.

    (3) A port district providing pilotage service under this section requiring additional pilots may petition the board of pilotage commissioners to qualify and license as a pilot a person who has passed the examination and is on the waiting list for the training program for the district.  If there are no persons on the waiting list, the board shall solicit applicants and offer the examination.

    (4) In addition to the power to employ or contract with pilots, a port district providing pilotage services under this section has such other powers as are reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section including, but not limited to, providing through ownership or contract pilots launches, dispatcher services, or ancillary tug services required for operations or safety.

    (5) A port district providing pilotage services under this section may recommend to the board of pilotage commissioners rules of service, rates, and tariffs governing its pilotage services for consideration and adoption pursuant to RCW 88.16.035.  The rules, rates, and tariffs recommended by the port district must have been approved in open meetings of the port district ten or more days after published notice in a newspaper of general circulation and after mailing a copy of the notice to the chairman of the board of pilotage commissioners.

    (6) A pilot providing pilotage services under this section must comply with all requirements of the pilotage act, chapter 88.16 RCW, and all rules adopted thereunder.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 53.08 RCW to read as follows:

    The joint legislative audit and review committee shall study the authorization for the provision of pilotage services in the Grays Harbor pilotage district and issue a report to the house of representatives and senate transportation committees no later than June 30, 2006.  Specifically, the joint legislative audit and review committee shall review whether the provisions of this act continue to ensure safe pilotage in the Grays Harbor port, whether there was a shortage of pilots, whether shipping has declined since the effective date of this act, and whether other ports have indicated an interest in providing pilotage services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  Nothing in this act is intended to amend chapter 88.16 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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