Section 525.5.

(a) On or before January 1, 2005, the department shall submit recommendations to the Legislature on strategies to prevent recreational vessels from being abandoned and to facilitate the ability of owners to turn in their recreational vessels to public agencies for disposal in lieu of abandonment.

(b) The recommendations shall be based on the expertise and data available to the department in relation to the existing abandoned watercraft abatement program administered by the department.

(c) The recommendations shall consider all of the following:

(1) The needs and desires of the recreational boating community in being able to properly and economically dispose of recreational vessels in lieu of abandoning them.

(2) Any environmental, economic, safety, or practical problems that need to be addressed before initiating a program to allow recreational vessels to be turned in to a public agency in lieu of abandonment, and the associated benefits of that program or any program that can prevent recreational vessels from being abandoned.

(3) An estimate of the number of vessels that may be turned in to local agencies in lieu of abandonment.

(d) (1) The director shall appoint an Abandoned Vessel Advisory Committee to assist the department in preparing recommendations.

(2) The membership of the committee shall include, but need not be limited to, representatives of all of the following:

(A) Boating law enforcement agencies.

(B) Entities that engage in the salvage or disposal of recreational vessels.

(C) Boat dealers.

(D) Boating, sailing, and yachting organizations.

(E) Owners and operators of public and private marina facilities.

(3) The members of the committee shall serve without compensation and may not be reimbursed by the state for expenses.

(4) The department shall assist the committee in carrying out its duties.

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 357, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)