Motorcycle Safety Education Advisory Board. The Motorcycle Safety Education Advisory Board (board) assists the Department of Licensing (DOL) with the administration, application, and educational content of the Washington Motorcycle Safety Program (Program). Program priorities include, in the following order:

• public awareness of motorcycle safety;
• motorcycle safety education;
• classroom and on-motorcycle training; and
• improved motorcycle operator testing.

 
The board consists of five members appointed by the director of DOL. Three members, one of whom is board chair, must be active motorcycle riders or members of nonprofit motorcycle organizations that promote motorcycle safety education.  One member must be a Washington State Patrol motorcycle officer with at least one year of experience as a motorcycle officer and at least five years of experience with the state patrol. One member must be a member of the public. 
 
Board members are appointed for a term of two years, meet at least two times annually but not less than five times during a term of appointment, and are only reimbursed for board-related travel expenses.
 
Motorcycle Endorsement. To legally operate a two-wheeled or three-wheeled motorcycle, a person must have a valid driver's license with a special motorcycle endorsement. To obtain an endorsement, a person must pass four total tests, unless waived by DOL for successful completion of a motorcycle skills education course or program.  The four tests are:

• a permit-level written test and a riding skills test, which qualifies the person for a motorcycle instruction permit; and
• an endorsement-level written test and a riding skills test, which qualifies the person for a motorcycle endorsement.

The board is expanded from five to seven members, with the two additional members appointed to represent motorcycle safety instructors.  All board members must be endorsed to drive a two-wheeled or three-wheeled motorcycle.  To the extent practicable, the director of DOL should strive to appoint members who reflect diversity in race, ethnicity, and gender, and who reside in different areas of the state, with at least two members who reside east of the crest of the Cascade mountain range.
 
The board may also consider members who represent motorcycle safety instructors for the position of board chair.
 
The two-year terms for board members are extended until a successor is appointed, and member appointments must be staggered to ensure that one or two members are appointed in every even-numbered year.

PRO:  This is a simple bill trying to fulfill a constituent request to expand membership of the board, and hopefully including a more gender diverse and eastside representation. Including motorcycle instructors and having members be specially endorsed is important. The bill allows for more representation from motorcyclists who pay for the education program, ensuring quality representation. Having two additional board members will provide broader representation and enable the board to more efficiently use its time.