Section 308-10-020. Operations and procedures.

(1) The department is organized under a director, deputy director, chief financial officer, chief information officer and three assistant directors. Each assistant director and officer is delegated authority to act in a specific functional area. The five major functional components are: Driver and vehicle services, driver policy and programs, finance and administration division, information services, and business and professions division.

(2) The director of the department is appointed by the governor, with consent of the senate, and holds office at the pleasure of the governor.

(a) Subject to statutory limitations the director has complete charge of the department. The director may delegate any power or duty vested in the office to any assistant or subordinate, but remains responsible for the official acts of the officers and employees.

(b) By the specific powers of legislation and delegation the director is charged with the responsibility and authority to act and direct in the following areas:

(i) Efficiently administer the laws pertaining to licensing of vehicles, vehicle operators, professions, occupations, real estate, vessels, and businesses.

(ii) Adopt and enforce rules consistent with, and necessary to carry out, the provisions of existing laws.

(c) Each assistant director and officer reports directly to the deputy director, unless otherwise prescribed.

(d) Unless specifically delegated the director shall establish and maintain relationships with the state's executive offices, legislature, and other state agencies, other states and other states' agencies, agencies of the federal government, state and national associations, local and municipal governments, boards and commissions, and the press.

(e) The director shall have direct authority over matters pertaining to public information, research, and legal issues.

(3) The assistant director, driver and vehicle services, has authority to act in the following areas:

(a) Administer laws pertaining to:

(i) Vehicle and vessel licensing and excise tax programs;

(ii) Fuel tax programs;

(iii) Proration and reciprocity programs;

(iv) Vehicle and vessel dealer, manufacturer licensing and inspection programs;

(v) Miscellaneous vehicle licensing programs including: Transporters, wreckers, hulk haulers, abandoned vehicles, tow truck operators, scrap processors, snowmobile and ORV vehicle dealers; and

(vi) Driver licensing and nondriver identification card programs.

(b) Adopt and enforce rules and standards to carry out the provisions of existing law.

(c) Administer the licensing functions of county auditors, and licensing agents who have been appointed by county auditors to act on behalf of the department.

(4) The assistant director, driver policy and programs, has authority to act in the following areas:

(a) Administer the laws pertaining to driver licensing, financial responsibility, and driver improvement;

(b) Adopt and enforce rules and standards to carry out the provisions of existing law.

(5) The assistant director, business and professions division, has authority to act in the following areas:

(a) Administer the laws in conjunction with appointed boards pertaining to the following professions, occupations, and businesses:

Appraisers

Architects

Auctioneers

Bail bonds

Boxing

Camping resorts

Cemeteries

Collection agencies

Cosmetologists

Court reporters

Driver training schools

Employment agencies

Engineers

Firearms

Funeral directors

Geologists

Home inspectors

Land surveyors

Landscape architects

Limousines

Martial arts

Notaries public

On-site wastewater treatment

Real estate

Private investigators

Security guards

Sellers of travel

Timeshares

Tattoo and body piercing

Vehicle for hire (includes taxis)

Wrestling

Uniform commercial code (UCC)

(i) The assistant director of the business and professions division helps administer the laws in conjunction with appointed boards, who exercise administrative and regulatory functions. Those boards are as follows:

Real Estate Appraiser Commission

Board of registration for architects

Board of funeral directors and embalmers

Cemetery licensing board

Collection agency board

Cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, and manicuring advisory board

Professional engineers and land surveyors board

Landscape architect board

Real estate commission

On-site wastewater design advisory committee

Geologist licensing board

(ii) Correspondence to these boards should be directed to the program units for the boards.

(b) Adopt and enforce the rules, regulations and standards in conjunction with appointed boards to carry out the provisions of existing laws.

(c) Establish and maintain relationships with commissions, boards, societies, associations, and agencies both external and internal to this state in order to enhance the department's capability for recommending improvements in legislation, rules, or regulations relative to professions, occupations, or businesses.

(d) Administer the laws pertaining to Uniform Commercial Code, business licensing and registration.

(6) The chief financial officer, finance and administration division, has authority to act in the following areas:

(a) Develop, promote, and direct department activities and programs which relate to:

(i) Budget and management systems;

(ii) Supply and equipment procurement;

(iii) Records management;

(iv) Fiscal and revenue accounting;

(v) Contracts;

(vi) Safety and risk management;

(vii) Facilities;

(viii) Customer service center operations;

(ix) Transportation;

(x) Commute trip reduction;

(xi) Sustainability;

(xii) Public records disclosure;

(xiii) Mail center operations;

(b) Organize, provide, and manage integrated staff services to best serve the overall interests of the department.

(7) The chief information officer, information services, has the authority to act in the following areas:

(a) Develop, promote, coordinate, and direct department activities which relate to the automated processing of data.

(b) Consult and work with other state agencies in structuring and phase-in of interagency related programs.

(c) Develop and implement a formal problem reporting system.

(8) The department conducts informal and formal proceedings in areas of its statutory authority as related in WAC 308-10-020. These proceedings are governed by chapters 34.05, 42.30 and 43.24 RCW, except that the denial, suspension, or revocation of drivers' licenses are not subject to provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act, other than those actions taken pursuant to chapter 46.29 RCW. The department has adopted rules in Title 308 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.56.040, [42.56.]070, and 46.01.110. WSR 10-10-040, § 308-10-020, filed 4/27/10, effective 5/28/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.260, 42.17.250, and 46.01.110. WSR 06-16-039, § 308-10-020, filed 7/26/06, effective 8/26/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.250. WSR 96-05-036, § 308-10-020, filed 2/15/96, effective 3/17/96; WSR 92-09-107, § 308-10-020, filed 4/20/92, effective 5/21/92; Order MV 348, § 308-10-020, filed 12/24/75.]

RCW 42.56.040, [42.56.]070, and 46.01.110. WSR 10-10-040, § 308-10-020, filed 4/27/10, effective 5/28/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.260, 42.17.250, and 46.01.110. WSR 06-16-039, § 308-10-020, filed 7/26/06, effective 8/26/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.250. WSR 96-05-036, § 308-10-020, filed 2/15/96, effective 3/17/96; WSR 92-09-107, § 308-10-020, filed 4/20/92, effective 5/21/92; Order MV 348, § 308-10-020, filed 12/24/75.