Vessels: registration fee: Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Program.

Existing law establishes various programs administered by, among other agencies, the Department of Fish and Game and the State Lands Commission, to prevent aquatic invasive species introduction and manage the spread and impacts of aquatic invasive species in state waters. Existing law prohibits, except as authorized by the Department of Fish and Game, a person from possessing, importing, shipping, or transporting in the state, or from placing, planting, or causing to be placed or planted in any water within the state, dreissenid mussels, which are regulated by the department as an invasive species. Existing law requires the owner of a vessel, as described, to register the vessel with the Department of Boating and Waterways (department) , in accordance with prescribed requirements. Existing law establishes a registration fee for vessels and applies certain fee increases to that registration fee. This bill would impose an additional fee in specified amounts, as determined by the department, on a vessel required to pay that registration fee. The bill would require the department, in determining the fee, to consult with a technical advisory group, which would be established by the department. The bill would require funds from the fee to be used to, among other things, implement and administer dreissenid mussel monitoring, inspection, and infestation prevention programs, as prescribed. The bill would require the department to adopt an emergency regulation to prescribe procedures for the collection and use of the fee.