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Area Coordinator: Nick Tarlson, N-LLP |
State Liaison: Como. Gail L. Ramsey |
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California Department of Boating & Waterways Coast Guard Auxiliary District: 11NR and 11SR Coast Guard District: 11 California Vessel Operator Certification Bill - To be Continued: Sacramento [May 30, 2008] – The dire state fiscal climate and the anticipated draw of several million dollars of boater funds to combat the spread of invasive species has led Recreational Boaters of California [RBOC] to request the postponement of legislation it is sponsoring to create a new program requiring motorboat operators to pass a test and obtain a lifetime boating certificate. RBOC will continue its commitment to pursue safety on the waterways and to provide for enhanced education of boat operators. The organization has worked with numerous stakeholders to develop a structure that had received wide-spread acceptance. The approach, embodied in AB 2110 introduced by Assembly Member Mike Duvall, will serve as a model for future legislation that could be introduced as early as next January. The Governor’s administration and the State Legislature are grappling with an $18 billion state budget shortfall, creating a significant reluctance to establish new programs and services. The motorboat operator certification program would involve an anticipated cost of several million dollars per year. While this governmental expansion would be supported by the revenues collected by certificate applications, there would also be significant start-up costs prior to any fee collections. The rapid spread of quagga and zebra mussels has created an urgent need for a timely expenditure of several million dollars to preserve boating on lakes and reservoirs threatened by invasive species. Budget proposals that are moving forward with measures requested by RBOC include boat inspections and wash-down stations. Preserving boating on bodies of water such as Lake Perris in Southern California will involve unprecedented efforts and has the potential to impact the vast majority of boaters throughout California. Recreational Boaters of California [RBOC] is celebrating its 40th anniversary as the nonprofit governmental advocacy organization that works to protect and enhance the interests of the state’s recreational boaters before the legislative and executive branches of state and local government. RBOC was formed as a statewide organization in 1968 and from that date forward has continued its commitment to promoting the enjoyment, protection, and responsible use of our waterways. First Quarter Report, 2008:
AB 1950 (Lieu): Vessels: abandonment: abatement. This bill would create a program whereby an owner of a dilapidated or un-seaworthy boat could voluntarily give it to a public agency that would dispose of it. This program is intended to prevent boats from being abandoned on public waterways, which is are environmental and navigational hazards. It would be funded by Cal Boating's existing Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund grant program.
AB 2110 (Duvall): Vessel operator cards. This bill would require that, based on a timeline in the bill, all operators of motorized boats pass a boating safety examination and carry a vessel operator card indicating that they have passed an exam related to that course. Violation of this new law would be an infraction, punishable by a fine up to $100 for a first offense, up to $250 for a second offense, and up to $500 for a third or subsequent offense. This bill would begin to go into effect on January 1, 2012, and would be scheduled to expire in 2022. AB 2873 (Solorio/Silva): Counties: sheriff's duties: coastline, harbors and inland waterways. This bill would require the Orange County Sheriff to continue to provide security and safety for the county's coastlines, harbors, and inland waterways, and would authorize the Orange County Board of Supervisors to grant authority to another law enforcement agency within the county to provide contractsecurity and safety services along the county's coastlines and inland waterways, provided they use the same training standards and employ the same number of officers as currently used by the Sheriff. AB 3029 (Tran): Small craft harbors and boating: grants. This bill would make federally recognized Indian tribes eligible for the Department of Boating and Waterways' small craft launching facility and vessel pump-out/dump station grant funds. SB 1159 (Cox): Alcoholic beverages: possession: Truckee River. This bill would prohibit rafters, swimmers and tubers from possessing or consuming alcohol on a certain portion of the Truckee River in Placer County during summer holidays, to help prevent public drunkenness and littering. SB 1462 (Maldonado): Navigable waters: seaplanes. This bill would establish requirements for takeoff, landing and docking of seaplanes on navigable inland waterways, and would require the Department of Boating and Waterways to establish a local ordinance review program for seaplane regulation. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fourth Quarter Report, 2007:
UPDATE: Sacramento, CA [February 21, 2008] – Assembly Member Mike Duvall [R-Brea] has introduced assembly bill AB 2110, legislation to phase-in a requirement that operators of vessels propelled by engines pass a one-time, state-approved test and have a card with them. Assembly Member Duvall has introduced the legislation at the request of the boater advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California [RBOC]. The effort carries forward the momentum initiated by the Assembly Member in 2007 with AB 1458, a similar proposal also requested by RBOC.
Updated Tuesday June 10, 2008 | |
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