Vessel registration fees are available under RCW 88.02.040 and are distributed as follows:

1. (1) State treasurer distribution to counties:

   1. (a) Vessel registration fees will be distributed to counties upon notification to the state treasurer:

      1. (i) By state parks that the county has an approved program; and

      2. (ii) By the department of licensing of:

         1. (A) The amount of registration fees collected in each county through June 30 of that calendar year; and
         2. (B) The total vessels registered in each county through June 30 of that calendar year.

   2. (b) State parks will award those remaining funds not distributed in this subsection to help offset out-of-county boater law enforcement and boating safety impacts. State parks may consider the following information when awarding unallocated funds:

      1. (i) Statewide surveys of vessel use;
      2. (ii) Estimates of out-of-county use made by county or local officials supported by locally conducted surveys;
      3. (iii) Other available professionally conducted surveys, studies, or research; or

      4. (iv) Subject to and based upon the availability of unallocated funds, counties with an approved program and identified as receiving the least amount of funds may be awarded additional funds to meet a minimum dollar amount set by state parks.

         Any remaining funds not distributed as the result of (b)(i) through (iv) of this subsection will be distributed evenly to all counties with an approved boating safety program.

2. (2) Counties distribution to local jurisdictions with approved boating safety programs:

   1. (a) Local jurisdiction program approval. Local jurisdictions offering boating safety services and desiring to receive a distribution of funds must enter into a cooperative agreement with the county and receive and maintain state parks' approval for their boating safety program.
   2. (b) County distribution of the funds. The legislative authority of each county with an approved local jurisdiction boating safety program will be responsible for equitably distributing the funds allocated by the state treasurer to local jurisdictions within the county which comply with the requirements of this chapter. The county shall make the equitable distribution to all eligible jurisdictions within seventy-five days of the allocation from the state treasurer and shall notify state parks of the amount distributed to each eligible jurisdiction.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 88.12.385, 88.02.040 and 43.51.400. WSR 98-24-012, § 352-65-050, filed 11/19/98, effective 12/20/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.51.400 and 88.12.385. WSR 90-13-008, § 352-65-050, filed 6/7/90, effective 7/7/90.]