Bill Text: FL H0169 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Vessel Safety

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [H0169 Detail]

Download: Florida-2011-H0169-Introduced.html

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HB 169

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; providing penalties; amending s. 327.54, F.S.;
5	revising the requirements relating to the boating safety
6	course required for leasing or renting a personal
7	watercraft from a livery; providing an effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1.  Subsections (5) and (6) of section 327.39,
12	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
13	327.39  Personal watercraft regulated.-
14	(5)  No person under the age of 16 14 shall operate any
15	personal watercraft on the waters of this state.
16	(6)(a)  It is unlawful for the owner of any personal
17	watercraft or any person having charge over or control of a
18	personal watercraft to authorize or knowingly permit the same to
19	be operated by a person under 16 14 years of age in violation of
20	this section or by a person who does not hold a boating safety
21	identification card in compliance with s. 327.395(1).
22	(b)1.  It is unlawful for the owner of any leased, hired,
23	or rented personal watercraft, or any person having charge over
24	or control of a leased, hired, or rented personal watercraft, to
25	authorize or knowingly permit the watercraft to be operated by
26	any person who has not received instruction in the safe handling
27	of personal watercraft, in compliance with s. 327.54 and rules
28	established by the commission.
29	2.  Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling
30	of personal watercraft pursuant to s. 327.54 and any a program
31	established by rule of the commission must provide the owner of,
32	or person having charge of or control over, a leased, hired, or
33	rented personal watercraft with a written statement attesting to
34	the same.
35	3.  The commission shall have the authority to establish
36	rules pursuant to chapter 120 prescribing the instruction to be
37	given, which shall take into account the nature and operational
38	characteristics of personal watercraft and general principles
39	and regulations pertaining to boating safety.
40	(c)  Any person who violates this subsection commits a
41	misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
42	775.082 or s. 775.083.
43	Section 2.  Subsection (4) of section 327.54, Florida
44	Statutes, is amended to read:
45	327.54  Liveries; safety regulations; penalty.-
46	(4)(a)  A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
47	personal watercraft to any person who is under 18 years of age.
48	(b)  A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
49	personal watercraft to any person who has not received
50	instruction in the safe handling of personal watercraft pursuant
51	to rule 68D-36.107, Florida Administrative Code, or any other
52	rule, in compliance with rules established by the commission
53	pursuant to chapter 120.
54	(c)  Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling
55	of personal watercraft pursuant to rule 68D-36.107, Florida
56	Administrative Code, or any other a program established by rule
57	of the commission, must provide the livery with a written
58	statement attesting to the same.
59
60	Any person delivering the information specified in this
61	subsection must enroll in, attend, and successfully complete, at
62	his or her own expense, a boating safety course approved by the
63	National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the
64	commission.
65	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

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