BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
SB 1408 (Blakeslee) - Bar pilots.
Amended: May 10, 2012 Policy Vote: GO 8-1
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: May 14, 2012 Consultant: Bob Franzoia
This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Bill Summary: SB 1408 would revise working and training
requirement for bar pilots for Monterey Bay and the Bays of San
Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun.
Fiscal Impact: Up to $150,000 from the Board of Pilot
Commissioner's Special Fund in 2013-14 to contract for a study
on bar pilot fatigue and proper rest periods.
Minor cost to revise continuing education program
requirements and potentially significant cost in 2014-15 to
promulgate regulations for bar pilots establishing limits
for the maximum hours of service.
Background: Existing law establishes the Board of Pilot
Commissioners, with jurisdiction over Monterey Bay and the Bays
of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun. Existing law directs
the board to regulate pilotage and provides for the licensing,
regulation, and management of bar pilots. The board consists of
seven members appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the
Senate, as follows:
- Two licensed pilots.
- Two industry representatives who are substantial users of
Monterey Bay and any of the waters of the Bays of San Francisco,
San Pablo, or Suisun.
- Three public members.
Additionally, the Secretary of Business, Transportation &
Housing Agency serves ex officio. The board currently has no
vacancies.
The primary functions of the board include the issuance and
renewal of bar pilot licenses; investigation of ship incidents,
incidents, and misconducts by pilots; taking actions against
pilot licensees; operating a bar pilot continuing education
SB 1408 (Blakeslee)
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program and a bar pilot training program; overseeing the
administration of the Pilot Pension Plan; and, conducting
pilotage rate hearings.
Existing law prescribes pilotage rates for vessels and requires
vessels inward or outward bound to pay a specified rate of bar
pilotage into or out of the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and
Suisun and vessels navigating the waters of Monterey Bay are
also required to pay a specified rate.
Proposed Law: This bill would:
- Require the board to contract for a study of hours of service
rules and proper rest periods for bar pilots. Based on the
recommendations of the study, the board would be required to
promulgate regulations establishing limits for the maximum hours
of service. Currently, there are no standards for maximum hours
worked in statute or regulation.
- Require a bar pilot to refuse a pilotage assignment if the
pilot is physically or mentally fatigued and the bar pilot has a
reasonable belief that the assignment cannot be carried out in a
safe manner.
- Require the executive director of the board, when alerted to a
potential violation of safety standards, to request that the US
Coast Guard report specified vessel pilot safety violations to
the port state control officer or a bar pilot organization in a
vessel's expected future port of call.
- Require a pilot trainee applicant, a license applicant, or a
licensee applying for renewal of a license to disclose certain
medical information, including information concerning prior
substance abuse and medical conditions characterized by lapses
of consciousness.
- Authorize the board to refuse training or licensing when it is
determined the applicant or licensee habitually uses, or is
addicted to, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or dangerous drugs.
- Require that any continuing bar pilot education training
program regularly inform bar pilots of the hazards of fatigue
and of effective strategies to prevent fatigue.
- Require the board to participate in the Department of Motor
Vehicles pull notice program for all pilot licensees and
trainees. The pull notice program will notify the board in the
case of a bar pilot DUI or driver license suspension or
revocation.
SB 1408 (Blakeslee)
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