San Francisco Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority.

Existing law establishes the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority. Existing law vests the authority with authority and control over public transportation ferries within the San Francisco Bay area region, except as specified, and defines "public transportation ferries" for that and related purposes as ferryboats operated, sponsored, funded, or subsidized by any public agency. This bill would instead specify that the authority has exclusive authority, rather than authority and control, over public transportation ferries within the San Francisco Bay area region. The bill would expand the definition of "public transportation ferries" to also include ferryboats landed at any facility operated, sponsored, funded, or subsidized by any public agency, but would exclude sightseeing ferries and ferries that do not provide point-to-point service from that definition. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities. Existing law prohibits a corporation or person from operating, or causing to be operated, any vessel for the transportation of persons or property for compensation between points in this state without first having obtained from the commission a certificate declaring that public convenience and necessity require that operation. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Existing law requires the authority to determine the entry within its jurisdiction of any water transportation service or facility that will affect public lands or receive or benefit from the use of federal, state, or local funds, except as specified. This bill would require each application to the commission to operate, or cause to be operated, a vessel for the transportation of persons or property for compensation and between points in the San Francisco Bay area region, except as specified, to include a concurrence from the authority, which the bill would require the authority to grant upon its board finding that the application is for water transportation services that are complementary to existing or planned service by public transportation ferries. The bill would require the commission to update its rules of practice and procedure and application process, as necessary, to be consistent with these requirements. Because a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission implementing these provisions would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.