"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) Recognizing the paramount importance of sustaining the highest levels of ferry system safety, the legislature finds that a rigorous, open incident and accident investigation policy is essential to the safe and reliable operation of the Washington state ferry system. Drawing on information provided in response to previous legislative direction, and noting recent accident/incident history, the legislature finds an urgent need to upgrade Washington state ferries' accident/incident investigation policies and procedures.
     (2) After fully considering proposed upgraded accident/incident investigation policies and procedures, it is the intent of the legislature to enact the policies into law and to publish that law and procedures as a manual for Washington state ferries' accident/incident investigations. Until that time, the department of transportation and the Washington state ferry system are enjoined to exercise particular diligence to assure that any incident or accident investigations are conducted within the spirit of the guidelines of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     As a priority task, the department is directed to propose a comprehensive incident and accident investigation policy and appropriate procedures for Washington state ferries, and to provide the proposal to the legislature by October 1, 2009. Using existing resources and staff expertise, Washington state ferries shall provide staff and resource support in the execution of this task. In addition to consulting with ferry system unions and the United States coast guard, the department is encouraged to solicit independent outside expertise on incident and accident investigation best practices as they may be found in other organizations with a similar concern for marine safety. The policy must contain, at a minimum:
     (1) The definition of an incident and an accident and the type of investigation that is required by both types of events;
     (2) The process for appointing an investigating officer or officers and a description of the authorities and responsibilities of the investigating officer or officers. The investigating officer or officers must:
     (a) Have the appropriate training and experience as determined by the policy;
     (b) Not have been involved in the incident or accident so as to avoid any conflict of interest;
     (c) Have full access to all persons, records, and relevant organizations that may have information about or may have contributed to, directly or indirectly, the incident or accident under investigation, in compliance with any affected employee's or employees' respective collective bargaining agreement and state laws and rules regarding public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW;
     (d) Be provided with, if requested by the investigating officer or officers, appropriate outside technical expertise; and
     (e) Be provided with staff and legal support by the department as may be appropriate to the type of investigation;
     (3) The process of working with the affected employee or employees in accordance with the employee's or employees' respective collective bargaining agreement and the appropriate union officials, within protocols afforded to all public employees;
     (4) The process by which the United States coast guard is kept informed of, interacts with, and reviews the investigation;
     (5) The process for review, approval, and implementation of any approved recommendations within the department; and
     (6) The process for keeping the public informed of the investigation and its outcomes, in compliance with any affected employee's or employees' respective collective bargaining agreement and state laws and rules regarding public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW."