What's happening
This bill exempts certain USA Water Ski-approved tow boats from needing an observer if specific safety and operational conditions are met.
Why it matters
Aligns state law with national standards for competitive water skiing. by allowing USA Water Ski-approved tow boats, when used in regulated slalom courses with specific safety features and qualified operators, to operate without a separate observer—potentially easing compliance for event organizers and participants.
May improve operational efficiency and reduce staffing needs. for water ski events and training sessions, since a qualified boat operator and an approved wide-angle mirror can substitute for a human observer under specified conditions.
Restricts the exemption to controlled, regulated environments. , ensuring that the observer requirement is only waived when boats meet high safety and equipment standards and are used within official slalom courses—helping to maintain safety while updating regulations.
Could increase access and participation in water ski sports. by making it easier for clubs and individuals to conduct practices and events, possibly boosting local tourism and sports development in New York.
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Who cares
Tow boat operators
Operators age 18 or older could tow water skiers without a separate observer while operating a USA Water Ski-approved tow boat within a USA Water Ski regulation slalom course, provided the boat has a wide-angle mirror with at least 48 square inches of viewing surface.
Water skiers
Skiers towed under those conditions would no longer need a separate person aboard to observe their progress.
Slalom course operators
The observer exemption would apply only within USA Water Ski regulation slalom courses.
USA Water Ski
The organization's tow boat approval and slalom course standards would determine which boats and courses qualify for the exemption.
Headline styles
Allow Skiing Without Observer
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Solo Water Ski Towing
In Senate Committee · Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation · Sponsor Betty Little
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3313
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT to amend the navigation law, in relation to observers for persons being towed on water skis by a vessel
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 73 of the navigation law, as amended by chapter 305 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
1. No person shall operate a vessel for towing a person unless there is upon such vessel a person, other than the operator, of at least ten years of age, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed. Provided, however, that a person in a position to observe the progress of the person who is being towed on water skis shall not be required if the vessel is:
a. a tow boat approved by USA Water Ski, and equipped with a wide-angle mirror having a viewing surface of not less than forty-eight square inches; and
b. being operated by a person who is eighteen years of age or older; and
c. being operated within a USA Water Ski regulation slalom course.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03654-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.