H-3851              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2670

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Beck and Heavey

Read first time 1/17/90 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to boating safety; and amending RCW 88.02.050.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 18, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 as last amended by section 1, chapter 17, Laws of 1989 and RCW 88.02.050 are each amended to read as follows:

          Application for a vessel registration shall be made to the department or its authorized agent in the manner and upon forms prescribed by the department.  The application shall state the name and address of each owner of the vessel and such other information as may be required by the department, shall be signed by at least one owner, and shall be accompanied by a vessel registration fee of six dollars per year ((and)), the excise tax imposed under chapter 82.49 RCW, and proof of each owner having satisfactorily completed a safe boating course approved by the United States Coast Guard.  Any fees required for licensing agents under RCW 46.01.140 shall be in addition to the six-dollar annual registration fee.

          Upon receipt of the application and the registration fee, the department shall assign a registration number and issue a decal for each vessel.  The registration number and decal shall be issued and affixed to the vessel in a manner prescribed by the department consistent with the standard numbering system for vessels set forth in volume 33, part 174, of the code of federal regulations.  A valid decal affixed as prescribed shall indicate compliance with the annual registration requirements of this chapter.

          The vessel registrations and decals are valid for a period of one year, except that the director of licensing may extend or diminish vessel registration periods, and the decals therefor, for the purpose of staggered renewal periods.    For registration periods of more or less than one year, the department may collect prorated annual registration fees and excise taxes based upon the number of months in the registration period.  Vessel registrations are renewable every year in a manner prescribed by the department upon payment of the vessel registration fee and excise tax.  Upon renewing a vessel registration, the department shall issue a new decal to be affixed as prescribed by the department.

          When the department issues either a notice to renew a vessel registration or a decal for a new or renewed vessel registration, it shall also provide information on the location of marine oil recycling tanks and sewage holding tank pumping stations.  This information will be provided to the department by the state parks and recreation commission in a form ready for distribution.  The form will be developed and prepared by the state parks and recreation commission with the cooperation of the department of ecology.  The department, the state parks and recreation commission, and the department of ecology shall enter into a memorandum of agreement to implement this process.

          A person acquiring a vessel from a dealer or a vessel already validly registered under this chapter shall, within fifteen days of the acquisition or purchase of the vessel, apply to the department or its authorized agent for transfer of the vessel registration, and the application shall be accompanied by a transfer fee of one dollar.