The bill amends RCW 79.100.120 to allow administrative law judges to substitute for members of the pollution control hearings board when deciding appeals related to derelict vessels. This change aims to streamline the hearing process for vessel owners or lienholders contesting decisions made by authorized public entities regarding the temporary possession or custody of vessels. The bill specifies that a hearing request must be filed within 30 days of the entity acquiring custody of the vessel, and it outlines the timeline for scheduling hearings based on whether the vessel has been redeemed.

Additionally, the bill updates certain timeframes within the existing law, changing "thirty" to 30 days, "ten" to 10 business days, and "sixty" to 60 days for various procedural requirements. It maintains the requirement for the pollution control hearings board to notify involved parties of the hearing details promptly and establishes that the decision made by either a board member or an administrative law judge will be final. This legislative change is intended to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the appeals process for derelict vessel cases.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 79.100.120
Bill as Passed Legislature: 79.100.120
Session Law: 79.100.120