Article 2. Suspension Or Revocation Of Licenses of California Harbors And Navigation Code >> Division 5. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 2.

If, in the opinion of the board, there is reasonable cause to believe that the public interest requires that a pilot be summarily suspended pending hearing on charges of misconduct that include any of the causes for suspension or revocation specified in Section 1181 or if the board has information that leads it to believe that a pilot has become unable to comply with the standards of health or physical condition requisite to a pilot's duties, the board may, without hearing, temporarily suspend the license of the pilot for not exceeding 40 days pending hearing and decision on the charges. Unless an accusation on the charge is served on the pilot as provided in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, prior to the close of the sixth day after the suspension becomes effective, the temporary suspension terminates at the close of the sixth day.

(a) The board shall establish an incident review committee, which shall be composed of one public member of the board and the executive director. The board shall delegate to the incident review committee the responsibility to review all reports of misconduct or navigational incidents involving pilots or other matters for which a license issued by the board may be revoked or suspended. This subdivision does not apply to an incident involving a pilot aboard a vessel of less than 300 gross tons unless a pilot is required by law.
  (b) The incident review committee, with the assistance of one or more investigators, shall investigate the incident, misconduct, or other matter and prepare a written report. The incident review committee may call witnesses and request additional information if the incident review committee considers it necessary to conduct a complete investigation. In performing their duties, the members of the incident review committee and its investigators shall act fairly and impartially and shall treat all matters developed or maintained as required by law. The members of the incident review committee and the investigators shall not discuss any investigation with the board or any member of the board until the matter has been finally disposed of by the incident review committee or final action has been taken by the board, as appropriate. The board shall specify, by regulation, the information to be contained in the report, which shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information relating to the incident, misconduct, or other matter:
  (1) The name of the vessel, date, location, and identification of the pilot.
  (2) A description of the weather and sea conditions.
  (3) An illustration and description of the incident, misconduct, or other matter under investigation.
  (4) An estimate of the damages, if any.
  (5) The names of the witnesses providing information relating to the incident, misconduct, or other matter under investigation.
  (6) The nature and extent of any injuries.
  (7) A summary of any prior investigations of incidents, misconduct, or other matters involving the same pilot designated pursuant to paragraph (1).
  (8) Any relevant correspondence or records from the United States Coast Guard relating to the incident, misconduct, or other matter under investigation.
  (9) A historical record of the actions taken in the investigation and the action taken pursuant to Section 1180.6.
  (10) A summary of the factual background of the incident, misconduct, or other matter investigated.
  (11) The following information that is not a part of the public record:
  (A) The report from the pilot.
  (B) The confidential report of the investigator.
  (c) Unless an accusation for suspension or revocation of the pilot' s license is served on the pilot as provided in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the incident review committee shall present the completed investigation report to the board at the first monthly meeting of the board after the completion of the report. Unless an extension is granted by the board, the report shall be presented within 90 days of the date of the incident, misconduct, or other matter investigated.
  (d) The record of the investigation prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) and the final disposition of the incident, misconduct, or other matter shall be retained in the records of the board for 10 years after the completion of the investigation and, except for the items listed in paragraph (11) of subdivision (b), shall be a public record.

(a) The board, after full consideration of the evidence, report, and recommendations presented by the incident review committee relating to an incident, misconduct, or other matter pursuant to Section 1180.3, shall take one or more of the following actions:
  (1) Serve an accusation for suspension or revocation of the pilot' s license on the pilot as provided in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, pursuant to Sections 1181 and 1182.
  (2) Enter into a written stipulation for corrective action to be performed by the pilot, which may include, but is not limited to, further training or supervised practice trips.
  (3) Provide counseling for the pilot relating to the duties and obligations of a pilot.
  (4) Issue a warning letter of reprimand to the pilot.
  (5) Take any other action, as provided in the guidelines adopted pursuant to subdivision (e).
  (6) Close the investigation without further action.
  (7) Remand the matter to the incident review committee for further investigation.
  (b) Action required pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be taken by a majority vote of the board.
  (c) A member of the board shall not sit on the board as a trier of fact for those cases in which he or she has served on the incident review committee recommending action to the board.
  (d) The executive director shall note any action taken by the board pursuant to this section in a pilot's record and shall establish a suspense file to ensure that all training, practice trips, or other corrective action required to be performed pursuant to subdivision (a) by the pilot are completed as required. The executive director shall report to the board each month on the progress of any training, supervised practice trips, or other corrective action or the completion of any other action required pursuant to subdivision (a).
  (e) The executive director shall notify the board of a pilot who fails, or refuses, to complete training, practice trips, or other corrective action imposed by the board pursuant to subdivision (a). If the board determines that the pilot has intentionally failed to complete training, practice trips, or other corrective action, the board may take additional action as specified in subdivision (a).
  (f) The board shall adopt guidelines for the determination by the incident review committee of the action to be taken pursuant to subdivision (a) at the completion of an investigation conducted pursuant to Section 1180.3.

The license of a pilot may be revoked or suspended before its expiration only for reasons of misconduct, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
  (a) Neglect, for 30 days after it becomes due, to render an account to the board of all money received for pilotage.
  (b) Neglect, for 30 days after it becomes due, to pay over to the board the percentage of all pilotage money received, as set by the board.
  (c) Rendering to the board a false account of pilotage received.
  (d) Absence from duty for more than one month at any one time without leave granted by the board, unless sickness or personal injury causes the absence.
  (e) Refusing to exhibit the pilot license when requested to do so by the master of any vessel boarded.
  (f) Intoxication or being under the influence of any substance or combination of substances that so affects the nervous system, brain, or muscles as to impair, to an appreciable degree, the ability to conduct the duties of a pilot while on duty.
  (g) Negligently, ignorantly, or willfully running a vessel on shore, or otherwise rendering it liable to damage, or otherwise causing injury to persons or damage to property. However, this subdivision does not apply to a vessel of less than 300 gross tons unless a pilot is required by law.
  (h) Willful violation of the rules and regulations adopted by the board for the government of pilots.
  (i) Inability to comply with the standards of health or physical condition requisite to the duties of a pilot, but in that case the burden of proving compliance with these standards is upon the licensee, unless prior to the hearing the licensee takes and passes those tests or examinations required by the board.
  (j) Failure or refusal, to complete training, practice trips, or other corrective action imposed on that pilot by the board pursuant to Section 1180.6.

If, after a hearing, the board finds that the pilot is guilty of misconduct sufficient for deprivation of the license, the board shall revoke or suspend the license of the pilot. The order shall be entered in the minutes and placed in the record of the pilot maintained pursuant to Section 1157. The proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the board shall have all the powers granted pursuant to that chapter.

(a) Upon notification of nonrenewal of the license, a pilot is entitled to a trial and hearing in the same manner that other charges and accusations against pilots are tried.
  (b) In every case of nonrenewal, suspension, or revocation of the license of a pilot for cause, the final decision of the board is subject to judicial review in accordance with law, and the court shall exercise its independent judgment on the evidence.

The board shall formally review the executive director with respect to the performance of his or her duties pursuant to this article at least once each year.