| SUMMARY OF: | A Sunset Review of the Department of Commerce,
Community, and Economic Development, Board of Marine Pilots |
Why DLA Performed This Audit
The audit’s purpose was to determine if there is a need for the board’s continued existence and whether its termination date should be extended. The board is set to sunset June 30, 2019, and will have one year from that date to conclude its administrative operations.
Report Conclusions
The audit concludes the board is serving the public’s interest by effectively licensing marine pilots and deputy marine pilots and approving trainees and apprentices. Board meetings were conducted in compliance with laws, investigations were processed timely, and the board actively changed regulations to improve the industry and better protect the public.
The audit also concludes the board should improve the process for issuing foreign pleasure craft exemptions. Testing found exemptions were not consistently issued in accordance with regulations. Additionally, the audit found one pilot association was not appropriately tracking drug test notifications.
In accordance with AS 08.03.010(c)(10), the board is scheduled to terminate on June 30, 2019. We recommend that the legislature extend the boards’ termination date to June 30, 2027.
Findings and Recommendations
- The board should ensure applicable documents are aboard foreign pleasure crafts in accordance with regulatory requirements.
- The board should ensure the Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association improves its procedures for tracking drug test notifications.