Aviation: vertiports.

Existing law, the State Aeronautics Act, governs aeronautics in the state for the purpose of furthering and protecting the public interest in aviation and aeronautical progress through identified means, and authorizes the Department of Transportation to adopt, administer, and enforce rules and regulations for the administration of the act. Under existing law, a violation of the State Aeronautics Act is a crime. This bill would prohibit the governing body of a local government from granting the exclusive right to one operator to develop vertiports or control vertiport operations within the local government's jurisdiction. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. Because the above provision would be a part of the State Aeronautics Act, the 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.