What's happening
This bill requires everyone on pleasure vessels under 21 feet to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times underway.
Why it matters
Expands life jacket requirements to all seasons. Previously, life jackets were only required from November 1st to May 1st; this bill would make them mandatory year-round for everyone on board small pleasure vessels.
Applies to all ages and vessel types under 21 feet. Whether in a canoe, kayak, or rowboat, every person—regardless of age—must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket when underway, closing loopholes that might have exempted adults or certain craft.
Aims to reduce drownings and improve compliance. By removing seasonal restrictions and clarifying the law, the bill seeks to address preventable boating fatalities, especially since accidents can happen in any month, and cold-water dangers are not limited to winter.
Shifts responsibility to owners and operators. The law places clear legal responsibility on vessel owners and operators to ensure compliance, which could lead to increased education, enforcement, and potentially changes in boating culture and safety norms.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Life Jackets Always Required
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8062
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT to amend the navigation law, in relation to the wearing of personal flotation devices when underway on pleasure vessels less than twenty-one feet
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 40 of the navigation law, as added by chapter 115 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
(e) No owner or operator of a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks shall permit its operation, [between November first and May first,] unless each person on board such vessel is wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size when such vessel is underway.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11816-02-9
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.