Public lands: general leasing law: littoral landowners.

Existing law authorizes the leasing of lands owned by the state and under the jurisdiction of the State Lands Commission for purposes the commission deems advisable. Existing law requires the commission to appraise lands and fix the annual rent or other consideration upon receipt of an application to lease the land. This bill would require the commission to charge rent for a private recreational pier, as defined, constructed on state lands and would require the rent to be based on local conditions and local fair annual rental values. The bill would except a lease in effect on July 1, 2011, for the term of that lease, and a lease for which the application and application fees were submitted to the commission prior to March 31, 2011. Existing law prohibits rent from being charged for a private recreational pier, as defined, constructed on state lands for the use of a littoral landowner, as defined. Existing law requires the littoral landowner to pay the commission's expenses in issuing a lease or permit for the state lands. This bill would repeal this law. Existing law makes legislative findings concerning the construction and maintenance of private recreational piers on state waterways, declares legislative intent to provide for rent free private recreational piers to encourage members of the public to construct these piers, and states that these findings and intent are declaratory of existing law. This bill would repeal those provisions.