A Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee was established by the Legislature during the 2010 session to study the amount of money which the state receives from recreational boaters and how much money the state returns to recreational boating. As you can see from the JLARC Study, recreational boaters pay more into the state than we receive in return. RBAW has responded to the report and we are working to address this inequity. Download the JLARC Report on "Activities Supporting Recreational Boating in Washington" (78 pages)
RBAW is currently working on the following legislative issues:
Recreation Resource Account/Boating Facilities Program: We continue to make this a top priority and look for opportunities to ensure the approximately $9 million per biennium for boating infrastructure funding is in the 2011-13 Capital Budget. This account was 'swept' during the last legislative session. |
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"Lifting/Removing the Lid" legislation: We have been engaged in ongoing discussions with Department of Natural Resources, snowmobilers, the WA Recreation and Park Association (WRPA) and others, on what may well be a 2011 bill request to remove the cap (currently 23 cents) on marine fuel proceeds going back into dedicated accounts (Recreation Resource Account & Boating Facilities Program) that serve boaters. Any successful effort to lift or remove the 23-cent cap will have to be contingent on new transportation funding--otherwise the approximately $17.5 million per biennium in play would come out of the State Motor Vehicle Fund, and those who currently receive those monies would oppose a bill strenuously. |
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New Fee Proposals -- Registering our opposition: We are making our opposition known to several fee proposals from state agencies that target boaters , for example, proposals regarding additional fees on recreational boaters to pay for invasive species removal when recreational boaters are not the cause of the problem, to the extent one exists; drowning prevention; and, WDFW marine law enforcement expansion. |
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JTC Study: The Joint Transportation Committee (JTC) has now completed a report of its Fuel Tax Refund Review study. The JTC study does a good job of, among other things, showing the future needs that exist for Recreation Resource Account and Boating Facilities Program funds. |
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Marina Rent Review -- Task Force: A Task Force, organized by the Department of Natural Resources, is reviewing the formula for rent/leases that the DNR charges to those whose marinas/clubs are on DNR aquatic lands. We do not have concerns with the current approach which utilizes the "upland value" approach to determine lease rates. The Task Force is evaluating an alternative approach that might involve averaging within a 5-mile radius. |
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Watercraft Excise Tax: As mentioned elsewhere on our site, RBAW has serious concerns with the Watercraft Excise Tax which boaters pay annually. This will not be an easy battle but it is one which we feel needs to be fought on behalf of the recreational boating community. |
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February 2012 The 2012 Legislative Session is in full swing. The following are bills / issues that RBAW is monitoring. Legislature will have 2012 Supplemental Capital Budget – HB 2168 – still to be acted upon. * We are working to ensure Recreation Resource Account Funds protected – we feel fairly confident as all RRA (Boating Facilities Program) grant monies appear to be under contract and obligated. * We have suggested legislators could add “below the line” boating projects to the pending “Jobs Package” (no bill number yet) – some $3.25m in infrastructure projects that could be under way quickly. * We helped head off a bill – HB 2444 – that would have shifted money out of the RRA to study/design a Marine Innovation Center at Skagit Valley College. Priority Issue – Protect Against Efforts to Add Taxes/Fees to Boaters as part of any 2012 Supplemental Operating Budget Balancing by State Legislature * Current feeling is that Feb. 16 revenue forecast update will be POSITIVE – we are cautiously optimistic there will not be any efforts to add or impose any new costs on boaters in Operating Budget. * We helped head off a bill – SB 6264 – that would have added $1 to all vessel registrations statewide to establish the aforementioned Marine Innovation Center at Skagit Valley College. Priority Issue – If 2012 Legislature looks at a gas-tax package for transportation investments, remove the “lid” on non-highway fuel accounts supported by boaters, ORV users, snowmobilers * HB 2012/SB 5867 are companion bills to remove the lid. We realize the Legislature is not currently looking at a gas tax, but when that happens, we urge that part of this be a removal of the lid. That said, we don’t expect action this Session. Watch Issue – SB 5550, Legislation on DNR Aquatic Lands Marina Lease Rates that changes the current “upland value” lease-payment system to an area-wide “averaging” methodology * In 2011 Session, RBAW strongly opposed SB 5550/HB 1553, legislation to establish the new averaging method, based on significant lease rate increases that would have meant for several yacht clubs – including the Poulsbo Yacht Club. Bills did not pass. * SB 5550 made it within one step of the Senate Floor Calendar – the bill was retooled to look at a few pilot areas for averaging. Language in the bill exempts non-profit marinas, community boating clubs, and yacht clubs – it thus writes RBAW members out of the bill. * This bill did not make it off the Senate Floor by the Feb. 14 close-of-business cutoff and is considered “dead” for the Session. Discover Pass * Both SSB 5977 and SHB 2373 make the Discover Pass transferable to two vehicles. There will be House-Senate negotiations – but one bill will certainly pass. We support. A few other issues on our list * SB 5134 is legislation that reduces the excise tax from ½ of 1% to ¼ of 1% of value for historic vessels – RBAW supports but highly unlikely to move in current fiscal climate. Bill appears to be dead. * HB 1904 – revising state law on cruising permits – NMTA-led effort; RBAW supports. While this bill will not pass this Session, we have made good inroads now with gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna and will be briefing his policy staff in April. *SB 5372 – NYBA legislation – would exempt any sales tax over $300,000 on vessel purchases that are in excess of $300,000. This bill really has no standing or no chance – never got a hearing or any traction. |
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