California Boating Department Still In Peril

Following budget subcommittee hearings last month in the California state legislature, it is anticipated that the governor’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Boating and Waterways will be “left open” in the budget process and pursued as a formal government reorganization plan, Jerry Desmond Jr., director of government relations for Recreational Boaters of California, said.

A formal reorganization proposal would take as many as 60 days following submission of a draft proposal to the state Little Hoover Commission. The commission would prepare a recommendation within 30 days. At least one house of the legislature would have to vote the proposal down in order to defeat it.

“RBOC and several other boating and industry groups testified in both subcommittee hearings and we are continuing our lobbying efforts against the proposal during this next, critical phase,” Desmond said in an e-mail