Title: An act relating to the regulation of recreational vessels.

Brief Description: Prohibiting certain activities on motor driven boats and vessels.

Sponsors: By Senators Roach, Rasmussen, Kastama, Haugen and Kline.

Brief History:

Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks: 2/17/06, 2/21/06 [DPA];

Appropriations: 2/25/06, 2/27/06 [DPA(APP w/o NREP)s].

Floor Activity:

Passed House - Amended: 3/3/06, 97-1.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 10 members: Representatives B. Sullivan, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Buck, Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chandler, Dickerson, Hunt, Kagi and Orcutt.

Staff: Amy Van Horn (786-7168).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Appropriations and without amendment by Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks. Signed by 29 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Buri, Chandler, Clements, Cody, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, McIntire, Miloscia, Pearson, Priest, Schual-Berke, P. Sullivan, Talcott and Walsh.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff: Alicia Paatsch (786-7178).

Background:

Teak surfing, also known as bodysurfing or platform dragging, is a boating activity in which a person in the water hangs on to the swim platform on the back of a moving boat, or lets go and "surfs" in the wave that trails behind the boat. Teak surfing is not prohibited in Washington.

Recreational boating is generally regulated by the State Parks and Recreation Commission
(Commission). Areas of regulation include vessel muffler systems, personal flotation devices, water skiing safety, and required equipment. The Commission is currently developing a program of mandatory boater education. Boater safety education requirements are being phased in over 11 years, with all boat operators required to have successfully completed the education requirements by the year 2016.

Vessel emissions standards are not regulated by the Commission. However, the Commission is required to provide statewide recreational boating fire prevention education that includes
education about the hazards of carbon monoxide.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Vessel operation prohibitions

A vessel operator may be fined up to $100 if he or she operates the vessel, or allows the engine to run idle, while another person is teak surfing, platform diving, bodysurfing, or holding onto the swim deck on the back of a vessel. An exception to this prohibition exists when the vessel operator is docking or departing, or when the vessel is being used for law enforcement or emergency rescue.

Carbon monoxide education

Every boat sold in the state must display a carbon monoxide warning sticker on the interior of the vessel, and the Commission must send the stickers with boater registration materials. The Commission is also required to include a brochure explaining the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning in boater registration materials for two years.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed, except sections 2 and 3, relating to carbon monoxide warning stickers and informational brochures, which take effect January 1, 2007.

Testimony For: (Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks) (In support of original bill) Carbon monoxide emissions from boats is vastly greater than that from car engines, and it is colorless and odorless. Someone breathing it in behind a boat can die in 60 seconds. Washington has one of the highest recreational boating fatality rates in the country, and deaths from carbon monoxide are increasing. This bill comports with the model legislation proposed by a national recreational boating association. Because boaters often cross state lines, uniform laws make it far easier to educate the public. This bill will not overly burden any agency, and it will get drivers to turn off their engines.

Testimony For: (Appropriations) None.

Testimony Against: (Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks) None.

Testimony Against: (Appropriations) None.

Persons Testifying: (Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks) (In support of original bill) Senator Roach, prime sponsor; Jim French, State Parks and Recreation Commission; Ray Schow and Steve Greaves, Recreational Boating Association of Washington; and Dan Packer, East Pierce Fire and Rescue.

Persons Testifying: (Appropriations) None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks) None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Appropriations) None.