Bill Text: FL H0233 | 2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Vessel Safety

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-17 - Unfavorable by General Government Policy Council, laid on Table; YEAS 6 NAYS 8 -HJ 00408 [H0233 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-H0233-Comm_Sub.html

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CS/HB 233

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to vessel safety; amending s. 327.39,
3	F.S.; revising certain requirements for operating personal
4	watercraft; prohibiting operation of such watercraft by
5	certain persons except under adult supervision; amending
6	s. 327.54, F.S.; revising the requirements relating to the
7	boating safety course required for leasing or renting a
8	personal watercraft from a livery; providing an effective
9	date.
10
11	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13	Section 1. Subsections (5) and (6) of section 327.39,
14	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
15	327.39 Personal watercraft regulated.-
16	(5) No person under the age of 14 shall operate any
17	personal watercraft on the waters of this state, and no person
18	under the age of 16 shall operate such watercraft without adult
19	supervision.
20	(6)(a) It is unlawful for the owner of any personal
21	watercraft or any person having charge over or control of a
22	personal watercraft to authorize or knowingly permit the same to
23	be operated by a person under 16 14 years of age in violation of
24	this section or by a person who does not hold a boating safety
25	identification card in compliance with s. 327.395(1).
26	(b)1. It is unlawful for the owner of any leased, hired,
27	or rented personal watercraft, or any person having charge over
28	or control of a leased, hired, or rented personal watercraft, to
29	authorize or knowingly permit the watercraft to be operated by
30	any person who has not received instruction in the safe handling
31	of personal watercraft, in compliance with s. 327.54 and rules
32	established by the commission.
33	2. Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling
34	of personal watercraft pursuant to s. 327.54 and any a program
35	established by rule of the commission must provide the owner of,
36	or person having charge of or control over, a leased, hired, or
37	rented personal watercraft with a written statement attesting to
38	the same.
39	3. The commission shall have the authority to establish
40	rules pursuant to chapter 120 prescribing the instruction to be
41	given, which shall take into account the nature and operational
42	characteristics of personal watercraft and general principles
43	and regulations pertaining to boating safety.
44	(c) Any person who violates this subsection commits a
45	misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
46	775.082 or s. 775.083.
47	Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 327.54, Florida
48	Statutes, is amended to read:
49	327.54 Liveries; safety regulations; penalty.-
50	(4)(a) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
51	personal watercraft to any person who is under 18 years of age.
52	(b) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
53	personal watercraft to any person who has not received
54	instruction in the safe handling of personal watercraft pursuant
55	to rule 68D-36.107, Florida Administrative Code, or any other
56	rule, in compliance with rules established by the commission
57	pursuant to chapter 120.
58	(c) Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling
59	of personal watercraft pursuant to rule 68D-36.107, Florida
60	Administrative Code, or any other a program established by rule
61	of the commission, must provide the livery with a written
62	statement attesting to the same.
63
64	Any agent or employee delivering the information specified in
65	this subsection must enroll in, attend, and successfully
66	complete, at his or her own expense, a boating safety course
67	approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
68	Administrators and the commission.
69	Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.