BILL REQ. #:  H-1870.1 

Read first time 02/24/2003.   Referred to Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to recreational boating; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Because of the number of recreational boating accidents, fatalities, and near misses on the waters of this state, the Washington state legislature believes there is a need to provide for safer recreational boating practices.
     The legislature therefore directs the Washington state parks and recreation commission and the boating safety advisory council to research and recommend ways to reduce boating accidents, fatalities, and near misses. The Washington state parks and recreation commission should also include in its research recognition of the need for homeland security safety precautions for boaters.
     The Washington state parks and recreation commission shall investigate a variety of methods to achieve safer boating practices, including a program of mandatory safe boater education, identifying the costs associated with designing, implementing, and maintaining mandatory safe boater education, and identifying all potential sources of funds to pay for such costs and report back to the legislature by January 1, 2004.