Title: An act relating to auctioning vessels.

Brief Description: Allowing auctioneers to auction vessels without registering as a vessel dealer.

Sponsors: House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Chase, Newhouse, Eickmeyer, Buri, Appleton, B. Sullivan and Dunn).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/06, 96-0.

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/21/06, 2/23/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Honeyford and Keiser.

Staff: Alison Mendiola (786-7483)

Background: Under the Washington Auctioneer Registration Act, any person or company acting as a licensed auctioneer must have a certificate of registration issued by the Department of Licensing (DOL).

A vessel is defined as any watercraft used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on the water, other than a seaplane. Vessel dealers must be registered with the DOL, with a few exceptions.

Summary of Bill: A properly licensed auction company, also licensed as a motor vehicle dealer, may sell at auctions all vessels that a vessel dealer is authorized to sell, so long as the sale of vessels is not the auction company's primary source of business. The length of any vessel sold must be no greater than 25 feet.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This bill has been several years in the making. Auctioneers who run smaller businesses may have occasions arise where they have a small boat to auction but under current law they would be required to get a vessel dealer's license and this is too cumbersome given the licenses and bonds they are already required to have as auctioneers. Auctioneers have sufficient bonds as is.

Testimony Against: None.

Testimony Other: Auctioneers should be subject to additional bonding requirements, in order to protect the consumer.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Chase, Prime Sponsor.

OTHER: Chuck Coach, Department of Licensing.