A measure to require boaters to pass a boating education examination and obtain a vessel operator card in order to operate a motorized boat in California is on its way to Governor Brown’s desk. Senate Bill 941, joint authored by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), passed off of the Senate Floor earlier today.
“This legislation is needed to enhance public safety on the state’s waterways and minimize the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage,” said Senator Monning. “Requiring first time boaters to pass a safety exam will save lives and decrease the number of boating accidents in California.”
“California cannot afford to remain behind the rest of the nation when it comes to boater safety,” Senator DeSaulnier said. “Legislation similar to SB 941 has proven to save lives in other states. Increasing safety standards will allow Californians to enjoy our incredible waterways with a greater peace of mind.”
SB 941 will require the Division of Boating and Waterways to develop a vessel operator card and issue it to individuals who provide proof that they have passed an approved examination. Beginning on January 1, 2018, the requirement to possess a Division vessel operator card will apply to operators 20 years of age or younger, with a staggered implementation date thereafter, depending on the age of the individual, until it eventually applies to everyone in 2025.
California is one of only five states that do not require individuals to take a boating safety course before operating a vessel. Senator Monning and Senator DeSaulnier introduced the legislation after hearing from constituents who have been involved in accidents with unsafe boaters that did not have the proper knowledge to operate a vessel.
Voting:
- State Senate: 26-10
- State Assembly: 51-25
Senate Bill 941
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Article 1.4 (commencing with Section 678) is added to Chapter 5 of Division 3 of the Harbors and Navigation Code, to read:
Article 1.4. Vessel Operators’ Education and Certification Cards
678.
(a) On or before January 1, 2018, the division shall develop a vessel operator card to be issued pursuant to this article.
678.3.
(a) (1) The division shall determine the fees required under this section in amounts sufficient to cover the reasonable costs of the development, establishment, and operation of the program. The fees shall not exceed those costs.
678.5.
(a) The division may develop and provide a vessel operator examination on the division’s Internet Web site. The division shall provide links from the division’s Internet Web site to other vessel operator examinations approved by the division that are available through a provider whose course has been approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
678.7.
(a) An amount not to exceed four million dollars ($4,000,000) shall, upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act, be transferred from the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund to the Vessel Operator Certification Account in the form of a loan to be used by the division to develop and establish the program under this article.
678.9.
(a) On or before April 1, 2019, and on or before April 1 annually thereafter, the division shall prepare a report that includes all of the following information with respect to the prior calendar year:
678.11.
(a) Subject to the schedule in subdivision (b), a person shall not operate on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the state a vessel that is propelled by an engine, regardless of whether the engine is the principal source of propulsion, unless the person has in his or her possession a vessel operator card issued by the division pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 678.
678.15.
(a) A violation of this article is an infraction.
SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.