Title: An act relating to auctioning vessels.

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

Sponsors: Senators Schoesler, Hargrove, Mulliken and Roach.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/15/05, 2/25/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5750 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Honeyford, Keiser and Prentice.

Staff: Alison Mendiola (786-7483)

Background: A vessel is defined as every 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 Department of Licensing (DOL), with a few exceptions.

Summary of Substitute 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

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: A limitation was added to the original bill language clarifying that the sale of vessels can not be the auction company's primary source of business.

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 is the result of a work session between DOL and auctioneers. At farm and estate auctions, vehicles and occasionally boats are up for auction. Requiring auctioneers to also get a vessel dealer license in order to auction vessels seems excessive. This bill simplifies the licensing process for auctioneers. Auctions are generally family run businesses and requires many licenses. This is a good housekeeping bill to address the occasional sale of a boat at an auction.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Schoesler, prime sponsor; Merle Booker, Washington Association of Auctioneers.