0732: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - PERSONAL WATERCRAFT USE BY MINORS

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT USE BY MINORS - S.B. 732: COMMITTEE SUMMARY

Senate Bill 732 (as introduced 9-23-99)

Sponsor: Senator Ken Sikkema

Date Completed: 11-9-99

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Personal Watercraft Safety Act to permit, under certain conditions, a person who was at least 12 years of age and less than 14 to use a personal watercraft.

Currently, a minor who is under age 14 may not use a personal watercraft on the waters of this State. A minor who is at least 12 years of age and under 14 before January 1, 1999, however, may use a personal watercraft if before that date he or she obtained a boating safety certificate.

Under the bill, a minor who was at least 12 but under 14 would have to be accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian, and both the minor and the parent or guardian would have to have obtained a boating safety certificate. In addition, the parent or guardian would have to have a lanyard attached to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device, if the personal watercraft were equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch.

MCL 281.1431 - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

This bill is unlikely to have a fiscal impact on either the State or local units of government.

The Department of Natural Resources currently provides $3.2 million from the Marine Safety Fund to local units government for marine safety enforcement and training programs. These funds are distributed to local law enforcement agencies for two purposes: water safety patrols and implementation of the types of boating and personal watercraft safety programs described in this bill. Currently, 50,000 people participate in these programs each year. The Department cannot estimate how many additional participants would be required to take annual safety training classes under the provisions of this bill.

This bill does not provide for additional marine safety program funds. However, if the demands placed on either marine safety or training programs increased as a result, additional funds would have to be appropriated for this purpose.

- Fiscal Analyst: P. AlderferS9900\s732sa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.