Florida Senate - 2022 SB 1650



By Senator Gruters





23-01194-22 20221650__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to boating and vessel safety; amending
3 s. 327.395, F.S.; requiring certain boating safety
4 education courses and temporary certificate
5 examinations to include specified components;
6 directing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
7 Commission to include such components in boating
8 safety education campaigns and certain educational
9 materials; amending s. 327.50, F.S.; requiring
10 instructors of water sports and activities to wear
11 engine cutoff switches under certain conditions;
12 providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 327.395, Florida
17 Statutes, is amended to read:
18 327.395 Boating safety education.—
19 (4) A commission-approved boating safety education course
20 or temporary certificate examination developed or approved by
21 the commission must include components a component regarding:
22 (a) Diving vessels, awareness of divers in the water,
23 divers-down warning devices, and the requirements of s. 327.331.
24 (b) The danger associated with:
25 1. A passenger riding on a seat back, gunwale, transom,
26 bow, motor cover, or any other vessel area not designed and
27 designated by the manufacturer for seating.
28 2. A passenger falling overboard.
29 3. Operating a vessel with a person in the water near the
30 vessel.
31 4. Starting a vessel with the engine in gear.
32 5. Leaving the vessel running when passengers are boarding
33 or disembarking.
34 (c) The proper use and lifesaving benefits of an engine
35 cutoff switch for motorboats and personal watercraft.
36
37 The commission must include the components under this subsection
38 in boating safety education campaigns and in educational
39 materials produced by the commission, as appropriate.
40 Section 2. Subsection (4) is added to section 327.50,
41 Florida Statutes, to read:
42 327.50 Vessel safety regulations; equipment and lighting
43 requirements.—
44 (4) The instructor of a water sport or activity must wear
45 an engine cutoff switch for any vessel used in the instruction
46 of the water sport or activity when people participating in the
47 water sport or activity are in the water.
48 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.

Statutes affected:
S 1650 Filed: 327.395