AN ACT EXEMPTING CERTAIN BOAT OPERATORS FROM TAKING A BOATING SAFETY COURSE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 15-140e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) On and after the following dates, no resident of the state, person owning real property in the state or person owning a vessel in the state shall operate on the waters of the state a vessel which is required to be registered or numbered pursuant to this chapter unless such person has a valid vessel operator license by the United States Coast Guard or has obtained a safe boating certificate issued by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection: For operators who are less than twenty years of age, June 23, 1993; for operators who are less than twenty-five years of age, October 1, 1993; for operators who are less than thirty years of age, October 1, 1994; for operators who are less than thirty-five years of age, October 1, 1995; for operators who are less than forty years of age, October 1, 1996; and for all operators forty years of age or older, October 1, 1997. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commissioner may issue a certificate to a person who has successfully completed a course in safe boating operation approved by the commissioner before the date such person is required to take the exam under this section. A safe boating certificate may be suspended or revoked, pursuant to section 15-133, 15-140l or 15-140n, and shall be valid for the life of the person to whom it is issued unless otherwise suspended or revoked. A person twelve years of age or older who has not obtained a safe boating certificate pursuant to this subsection may operate a vessel on the waters of the state if such person is under the direct onboard supervision of a person eighteen years of age or older who has a valid vessel operator license issued by the United States Coast Guard or has obtained a safe boating certificate pursuant to this subsection.

(b) A certificate shall be issued under subsection (a) to any applicant regardless of age who provides proof that he has (1) successfully completed a course in safe boating operation approved by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, which may include those offered by the United States Power Squadron, Coast Guard Auxiliary or other organizations, (2) successfully passed an equivalency examination testing knowledge of safe boating operation administered by the commissioner, (3) owned a vessel which was registered or numbered pursuant to this chapter in his name as an individual during any period in the five years preceding October 1, 1992, or (4) been a member during any period in the five years preceding October 1, 1992, of the United States Power Squadron or United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. On and after October 1, 1997, no certificate shall be issued pursuant to subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, any person who purchases a new or used vessel after July 11, 1991, may, upon vessel registration, apply to the department for a temporary safe boating certificate which shall be valid for six months from the date of registration. No person shall be issued more than one temporary safe boating certificate.

(d) Any person operating a vessel other than a personal watercraft, as defined in section 15-140j, which is rented for a period of fourteen days or less from a person or organization engaged in the commercial rental of vessels need not obtain a certificate during the rental period. Persons or organizations engaged in the commercial rental of vessels shall furnish to each rental customer literature on safety and rules of navigation as supplied by the commissioner.

(e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than sixty nor more than two hundred fifty dollars for each such violation.

(f) Any course in safe boating operation approved by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, as described in subsection (b) of this section, shall include instruction on the proper means of: (1) Inspecting a vessel and trailers used for transporting such vessels for the presence of vegetation; and (2) properly disposing of such vegetation.

Statement of Purpose:

To allow persons twelve years of age or older who do not hold safe boating certificates to operate boats while under the direct onboard supervision of persons eighteen years of age or older who hold Coast Guard captain's licenses or safe boating certificates.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]

H.B. 6574