This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.501, subdivision 3, to enhance safety regulations regarding children aboard watercraft. It requires that personal flotation devices (life jackets) for children under ten years of age must include specific reflective material for increased visibility. The new requirements stipulate that starting January 1, 2027, each flotation device must have at least 31 square inches of retroreflective material on the front, back, and, if reversible, on each side. Additionally, the reflective material must be strategically placed in the upper quadrants of the device.

The bill also modifies the penalties associated with violations of these regulations. It deletes the previous provision that exempted first violations prior to May 1, 2006, from penalties, and instead introduces a new clause stating that a first violation of the reflective material requirement will not result in a penalty but will be punishable only by a safety warning until May 1, 2028. This change aims to promote compliance with the new safety standards while providing a grace period for individuals to adjust to the updated requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 86B.501