An act to add Section 6112 to the Public Resources Code, relating to vessels.
Summary
AB 274 would require the California State Lands Commission, by January 1, 2027 and only if the Legislature appropriates funds, to create an inventory of abandoned and derelict commercial and recreational vessels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including commercially navigable waters. The inventory must identify the number of vessels and include information such as vessel size and weight, estimated hazardous contents, proximity to water sources, and estimated removal costs. The bill also allows the inventory to be compiled using aerial surveys and existing data from federal, state, and local agencies.
The measure is framed as a response to the environmental, navigation, and public health risks posed by abandoned vessels, especially in the Delta, which the bill describes as uniquely vulnerable because of its extensive waterways and importance to California’s water supply and agricultural economy. It adds a new section to the Public Resources Code and makes legislative findings that a special statute is needed for the Delta because a general statute is not sufficient for its circumstances.
Impact
AB 274 would create a new statutory duty in the Public Resources Code for the State Lands Commission to gather and organize data on abandoned and derelict vessels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It does not itself authorize removal or cleanup, but it would establish a formal inventory process that could support future enforcement, remediation, budgeting, and planning decisions. The bill is contingent on an appropriation, so it would not take effect unless funding is provided by the Legislature. Its practical effect would be concentrated on the Delta and on agencies involved in vessel removal, waterway management, and environmental protection.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests broad support at the committee level: the bill passed the Assembly committee vote 13-0 and was recommended to the consent calendar. The bill’s findings and structure indicate a consensus-oriented approach focused on information gathering rather than immediate regulatory expansion. No committee transcript is available in the provided materials, but the absence of recorded opposition in the vote and the unanimous result indicate generally favorable sentiment.
Contention
The main policy issue is not whether abandoned vessels are a problem, but how far the state should go and who should pay for the response. The bill is limited to an inventory, which may reflect a compromise between advocates for stronger cleanup action and concerns about cost, implementation, and agency workload. Another point of potential contention is the bill’s Delta-specific focus and special-statute finding, which could raise questions about why the measure is geographically limited rather than statewide. Because the bill is contingent on an appropriation, funding is also a practical point of uncertainty.
Requires MVC to verify certain information concerning commercial learner's permit and commercial driver license applicants and holders to ensure persons illegally in the State do not obtain or hold such permits and licenses.