Bill > HB103

This bill establishes a comprehensive legal framework for addressing at-risk, derelict, and abandoned boats in Pennsylvania, providing clear definitions and procedures for how municipalities and law enforcement agencies should handle boats that are considered problematic. The bill defines three categories of boats: at-risk boats (boats in danger of becoming unusable or breaking loose), derelict boats (sunken, aground, or significantly damaged boats), and abandoned boats (boats left unattended or without valid registration). When such a boat is identified, the municipality or law enforcement agency must notify the relevant commission within seven days and make reasonable efforts to contact the boat's owner through multiple channels, including certified mail, in-person contact, electronic messaging, or public digital media. The owner then has 14 calendar days to remove, repair, salvage, store, or junk the boat, or make alternative arrangements. If the owner fails to act, the boat may be removed at their expense, and they could face financial penalties and potential criminal charges, ranging from summary offenses with fines of $500-$1,000 for first and second offenses to a third-degree misdemeanor for subsequent offenses. The bill also includes provisions protecting the entities involved in boat removal from liability and does not supersede existing nuisance laws, providing a comprehensive and flexible approach to managing problematic watercraft.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=103