SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5989

As Passed Senate, March 17, 2003

Title: An act relating to pilot members of the board of pilotage commissioners.

Brief Description: Representing pilots on the board of pilotage commissioners.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen, Horn and Jacobsen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 3/5/03, 3/6/03 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/17/03, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Finkbeiner, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Prentice and Spanel.

Staff: Tami Neilson (786-7452)

Background: Pilots are responsible for the navigation of U.S. and foreign flag vessels in Puget Sound and Grays Harbor.

The Board of Pilotage Commissioners' (BPC) primary functions relate to pilot licensing and regulation. The BPC is responsible for the administration of pilot qualifications and performance standards, training and education requirements; setting pilotage tariffs; and monitoring the pilot and shipping industry to ensure adherence to the Pilotage Act.

The BPC is composed of the following: the Assistant Secretary of Marine Transportation of the Washington State Department of Transportation (or designee); the Director of Ecology (or designee); and seven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Two of the appointees must be interested in pilotage, maritime safety, and marine affairs, with broad maritime experience. The remaining appointees are to be as follows:

      •    two active pilots (one from the Puget Sound pilotage district, one from the Grays Harbor pilotage district);

      •    two shippers or representatives of passenger vessels (one American, one foreign); and

      •    an environmental organization representative concerned with marine waters.

There are 50 pilots in the Puget Sound Pilotage district and two in the Grays Harbor Pilotage District.

Summary of Bill: Membership on the BPC is altered so that, in terms of representing pilotage districts on the BPC, one pilot must be from the Puget Sound pilotage district and the other may be from either the Grays Harbor pilotage district or the Puget Sound pilotage district.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Grays Harbor only has one active pilot. If this legislation is passed, the balance of representation for pilots will be preserved.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Bill Bock, Puget Sound Pilots (pro).