Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 966 amends Parks and Wildlife Code provisions relating to boating and water safety. The act requires the Parks and Wildlife Commission to create and administer a boater education program and mandates that a person operating a vessel on the public water of the state, who is born on or after September 1, 1984, must complete a boater education course unless the person qualifies for certain exemptions. The act requires boat rental operators to carry liability insurance and to provide certain instructions to renters.

            House Bill 966 also requires all state peace officers and game wardens commissioned by the commission to be certified as marine safety enforcement officers. The commission is required to establish standards for training and certification and is authorized to assess a fee on each applicant for certification to recover the administrative costs associated with the certification program. The act establishes fines and criminal penalties for certain violations, provides that a first time offender may attend a boater education course in lieu of a fine, and requires the imposition of both a fine and the successful completion of a boater education course for certain violations.

            In addition, House Bill 966 amends provisions of the code relating to personal watercraft to require that operators maintain a 50 foot separation from another personal watercraft. The act raises the age requirement for operators of personal watercraft from 13 to 16, unless the operator is accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age or is at least 13 years of age and has successfully completed a boater safety course. The act also provides that the owner of a personal watercraft may be notified if a violation of this section is committed by the person operating the personal watercraft, if the operator is under 18 years of age.