Bill Text: MA H2281 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced


Bill Title: Kayak safety

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-10-22 - Read; and referred to the Senate Committee On Ethics and Rules [H2281 Detail]

Download: Massachusetts-2009-H2281-Introduced.html

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

PRESENTED BY:

William M. Straus, Kay Khan

_______________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
                Court assembled:

                The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to kayak safety.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

William M. Straus

10th Bristol


 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2382 OF 2007-2008.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

_______________




An Act relative to kayak safety.



                Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

           

SECTION 1.  Section 1 of Chapter 90B of the General laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Jet skis” the following definition: - “Kayak”, a lightweight boat that is covered, except for a single or double opening in the center thereof, and is propelled by a paddle.

SECTION 2.  Said Chapter 90B is hereby further amended by inserting after section 13A the following section:-

SECTION13b. Anyone who holds himself out as a kayak instructor for hire shall obtain and maintain:

(i)                 First aid training approved by the department of public health;

(ii)               Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training approved by the department of public health; and

(iii)             Kayak instructor certification from the American Canoe Association, American Red Cross certification in small craft safety and basic water rescue, or equivalent water training.

The instructor shall train students on the safety procedures appropriate to the level of paddling difficulty.  Wet exit training, which is defined as the practice of escaping from a kayak while capsized in a controlled water setting, shall be required of beginners or novice level only if a “spray skirt” is attached during any part of the kayak instructional session.

A liability release that limits an instructor’s responsibility to comply with this section shall be void.       

feedback