SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5176
As of January 27, 2021
Title: An act relating to modifying boater education safety requirements.
Brief Description: Modifying boater safety education requirements.
Sponsors: Senator Van De Wege.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks: 1/28/21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires operators of human-propelled vessels in marine waters to obtain a human-propelled vessel boater education card or a standard boater education card.
  • Extends the requirement to obtain a boater safety education card to operators of motor boats and vessels with mechanical power of 15 horsepower or less.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER, NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS
Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7428)
Background:

The Parks and Recreation Commission (commission) is required to establish and implement a program to provide required boating safety education.  The commission must establish a minimum standard of boater safety accomplishment.  The commission must also adopt minimum standards for boating safety education courses of instruction and examination and approve or provide accreditation to boating safety education courses.  To obtain a boater education card, a boater must provide a certificate of accomplishment issued by a boater educator for taking and passing an accredited boating safety education course, or equivalency exam, or provide proof of completion of a course that meets the standard adopted by the commission.  The fee for a boater education card is $10.   
 
To operate a motor-driven boat or vessel of 15 horsepower or greater, a person must be at least 12 years old and possess a boater education card; or be accompanied by and under the supervision of a person at least 16 years old who has a boater education card.  Certain individuals are not required to have a boater education card, including any person born before January 1, 1955.
 
Failure to possess a boater education card as required by law is a natural resource infraction punishable by a fine; however, the penalty must be waived if the boater provides proof to the court, within 60 days, they received a boater education card.
Summary of Bill:

The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute):

Operators of human-propelled vessels in marine waters are required to obtain either a human-propelled boater education card or a boater education card.  A person operating a human-propelled vessel is not required to obtain a boater education card if they are renting and operating the vessel under the guidance of a rental business, or they are operating the vessel within the first 60 days after purchase.  Human-propelled vessels include a vessel that is oared and paddled including canoes, kayaks, rafts, and stand-up paddleboards.  A human-propelled vessel does not include a surfboard.
 
The exemptions to the boater education card requirement for a person operating a motor driven boat or vessel with a mechanical power of 15 horsepower or less, or a person born before January 1, 1955, are eliminated.
 
Failure to possess a human-propelled vessel boater education card as required is a natural resource infraction punishable by fine.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 26, 2021.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.