State Eliminates Boating Department

In an effort to cut costs and reduce redundancies in government agencies, the Department of Boating and Waterways is now part of the Parks and Recreation Department.  

However, after outcry from boating organizations, the Boating Department’s commission will be preserved thanks to Assembly Bill 737, authored by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-San Ramon and signed into law this month by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The Boating Department provides grants for boating, law enforcement and marina construction throughout the state, and opponents of the integration with the Parks and Recreation Department feared a loss of services to California recreational boaters. 

DBW is primarily funded through boating registration fees and gasoline taxes on boat fuel and generates about $69 million a year. These funds will now be included in the Parks and Recreation’s budget, and could be allocated for non-boating related issues.

However, AB 737, in addition to saving the Boating Commission, also includes a provision that will guarantee one seat on the Parks and Recreation Commission to a representative of recreational boaters in California. 

Under the new law, boating commissioners will no longer have the authority to dictate how boating loans and grants are disbursed throughout California.