Bar pilots: pilotage rates.

Existing law provides for the regulation and licensing of pilots for Monterey Bay and the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun and for the payment of specified pilotage rates and charges imposed on vessels piloted in those bays. Existing law also establishes, in the Transportation Agency, a Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun and prescribes the membership, functions, and duties of the board with regard to the licensure and regulation of bar pilots. Existing law prescribes the rates of bar pilotage fees required to be charged by pilots and paid by vessels inward and outward bound through those bays and requires the board to recommend that the Legislature, by statute, adopt a schedule of pilotage rates providing fair and reasonable return to pilots piloting vessels in those bays. Existing law also imposes, among other things, a board operations surcharge of up to 7.5% of all bar pilotage fees charged by bar pilots, which is paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Board of Pilot Commissioners' Special Fund and continuously appropriated to the board to compensate the board and the agency for their services and expenses. This bill would revise the process for changing the rates of those bar pilotage fees to instead require the board to adopt a schedule of pilotage rates. The bill would further require the board to adopt regulations, as provided, for the adjustment of rates for pilotage services, and would prescribe procedures for the board to review and adjust those pilotage rates, as specified. By authorizing the board to adjust the rates of bar pilotage fees, which may increase bar pilotage fees and thereby may increase the amount of the board operations surcharge and the amount of moneys paid into the fund, the bill would make an appropriation.