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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
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Title of bill
An act to amend the navigation law, in relation to requiring all persons operating a mechanically propelled vessel to be a holder of a boating safety certificate
Purpose or general idea of bill
To mandate boating safety certification requirements for the operation of vessels mechanically operated on navigable waters in New York State.
Summary of specific provisions
Subdivisions 1 and 3 of Section 49 of the Navigation Law, as amended by Chapter 805 of the Laws of 1992, are amended to read as follows: No person shall operate a mechanically propelled vessel on the navigable waters of the state or any tidewaters bordering on or lying within the boundaries of Nassau and Suffolk counties unless such person is the holder of a Boating Safety Certificate issued to him or her by the commissioner, the United States Power Squadrons, or the united States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
No person who is the owner of a mechanically propelled vessel shall knowingly authorize or permit the operation of his or her vessel in the navigable waters of the state or any tidewaters bordering on or lying within the boundaries of Nassau and Suffolk counties unless the operator possesses a Boating Safety Certificate issued by one of the entities detailed in the above paragraph.
Justification
New York State has close to 500,000 registered boating vessels, not including the non-mechanically propelled boats, which do not require registration. The number of boats continues to grow, particularly personal water craft jet skis; increasing the potential for boating accidents. In addition, the lack of a boating safety requirement for all vessel operators enables many to boat without adequate accident prevention education. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, about 70% of all notional reported fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.
Several states including New Jersey, Connecticut, Alabama, District of Columbia, New Hampshire, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin already require that the operator of the boat posses a certificate showing that he or she has passed an approved boating safety course. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the united States Coast Guard have issued recommendations that all states implement mandatory safety boating education.
The New York State Legislature and Governor have recognized the dangers posed by the lack of boater safety education. Since the 1960's, youths between the ages of 10 and 18 who operate a motor boat without an adult must possess a Boating Safety Certificate. Since 2004, all operators of personal water crafts must complete a boating safety course that has the same content as the one provided to the youths. This mandatory boating safety requirement legislation would cover all vessel operators through a 3 year phase in. By 2014, all vessel operators would need to possess a Boating Safety Certificate, resulting in safer waterways for all New York State.
Legislative history 2008
S.8073 - Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
None. EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect immediately with certain provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.