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Committee advances bill to criminalize abandonment of vessels and expand DNR removal authority
Summary
Lawmakers advanced HB115 to create procedures for identifying, notifying and removing abandoned vessels, and to add misdemeanor and felony penalties aimed at holding owners accountable; members pressed the department on costs, funding and enforcement limits.
A House Natural Resources committee advanced a bill aimed at addressing derelict and abandoned vessels on Georgia’s coastal and inland public waters, saying the measure would create a process for tagging, notification, removal and, in some cases, criminal penalties for abandonment.
Chairman Petrie (presenting the sponsor text) described a long-standing problem of abandoned boats "floating off" coastal waterways and inland lakes and told the panel that removal of sunken vessels can cost taxpayers "from 32,000 to 42,000" per vessel to recover and destroy. The substitute (LC394617S) adds procedural steps for a DNR law-enforcement unattended-vessel check, requires attaching a notice card to suspected abandoned vessels, mandates searches of criminal-reporting systems to determine if a craft is stolen, and creates notification timelines for owners and lienholders.
"If that vessel is not removed and not stolen... First offense, a fine not to exceed $5,000 or by confinement of a term not to exceed 12 months ... A second offense is a felony punishable by a fine not to exceed $50,000 or by a term of not to exceed 5 years," the presenter said, summarizing the bill's penalty provisions.
Members pressed DNR staff about enforcement limits, including whether a state could revoke an out-of-state driver’s license; the colonel said the state lacks authority to revoke out-of-state licenses. DNR witnesses and members flagged the lack of a dedicated fund for removals: officials said the agency has, in past years, set aside small amounts (for example, $25,000 in earlier budget cycles) but currently lacks a line item large enough to tackle the known inventory of derelict vessels. DNR officials said they had pursued federal grants but did not receive them and estimated there are roughly 112–159 derelict vessels on state waters depending on the count and year.
Committee members discussed targeting the most egregious removal needs and possible line-item funding; members moved and the committee passed the bill by voice vote.
The committee record shows a committee-level voice vote but no roll-call tally in the transcript; the bill will proceed to further legislative consideration.
