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Area Coordinator: Stu Soffer, N-LAE |
State Liaison: Steven G. Biro |
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Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Coast Guard Auxiliary District: 1NR Coast Guard District: 1st
First Quarter Report, 2008:
Legislature is back in session as of February 6. Since it is an even numbered year, this is a short session for them. The only bills that will make it to the floor are those that are raised in committee. (in odd-numbered years, the session is longer and bills can be raised by individual legislators or groups). The last day that a bill can be raised by a committee is Friday, March 7. If a bill is not raised, which means being given a bill number, the bill is for all intents and purposes considered dead. However, even “dead” bills can be seen again if it is amended into, or tagged onto, a viable bill. There are some interesting bills out there this year that could affect recreational boating.
R.B. No. 5806—An Act Concerning Boating Safety. This bill was raised by the Environment Committee and sponsored by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It seeks to:
• Adopt by Federal reference safety, equipment, and lighting requirements. • Allow children under 16 to operate a vessel, other than personal watercraft, without a certificate, if supervised by a person at least 18 that has had a certificate for at least 2 years. • To make the owner of a vessel responsible for allowing a child under 16 to operate a vessel without a certificate, if one is needed. • To allow a person without a certificate to operate a boat, other than PWC, if under the on-board supervision of a DEP certified boating Instructor. • To define boat livery. • To create a penalty for a person to teach boating safety classes, leading to certification, if the course is not approved by the DEP Commissioner. • To reduce the temporary certificate for the Safe Boating Certificate and Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (which may be issued to owners of a vessel new to them) from six to three months.
HB 5032—A Act Concerning Operation of a Vessel While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drug. This is a Governor sponsored bill to make it manslaughter in the second degree if the death of a person is caused by Boating Under the Influence.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fourth Quarter Report, 2007:
No boating-related legislative activity reported this quarter.
Third Quarter Report, 2007:
No new legislation. Consideration continues to be given to the following legislation for 2008:
Section 15-140e: would allow boats to be
operated by someone under 16, who does not hold a safe boating certificate
providing that person is under direct supervision of someone eighteen years or
older who holds a safe boating certificate. Also, this section reduces the time
call for a valid safe temporary safe boating certificate from six to three
months.
Second Quarter Report, 2007: SB 429 (An Act Concerning Law Enforcement and Fire Rescue Vessels), both the House and Senate have passed the bill as amended by House Amendment Schedule A. The bill as amended establishes responsibilities for vessel operators who are either being approached by a law enforcement or fire rescue vessel using an audible signal and displaying appropriate flashing lights or are themselves approaching a stationary law enforcement or rescue vessel (slow down [generally to maintain steerageway], no wake and don't obstruct). I attach to this email the bill as amended. Nothing has happened with the Boating Division's legislation, An Act Concerning Boating Safety and, since the session ends today, most likely nothing will happen with it this session. First Quarter Report, 2007: House Bill 6574 has been proposed by Representative Miner, an influential legislator. This bill would exempt operators of vessels with that operate on an "inland body of water" and have less than 10 hp from being required to earn a Safe Boating Certificate. Currently Connecticut law requires every boater to pass a boating test or satisfactorily complete an approved eight-hour boating course in order to operate any vessel. The Boating Advisory Council strongly opposed this legislation. 1SR DCO provided written testimony detailing how this bill would negatively impact boating safety. As a result, the bill is being amended to exempt certification requirements for an operator who is under the direct supervision of a person holding a safe boating certificate and if the vessel is propelled by less than a 10 hp motor on a lake or pond. The foregoing demonstrates the positive impact of pro-active Auxiliary involvement. Mr. Stuart Soffer, NLLC AC (E), praised Steven Biro, LLO, and the 1SR team for following procedures and making this happen. House Bill 7184 is referred to as “An Act Concerning Boating Safety”. It will amend boating statutes to include the following: 1. Incorporate federal safety, navigational, lighting, and equipment requirements. 2. Specify procedures to be followed in cases of boating collisions and accidents. 3. Hold a person in control of a boat or personal watercraft responsible for permitting a person under sixteen years of age to operate a boat or personal watercraft without a safe boating certificate or certificate of personal watercraft operation. 4. Authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to penalize persons teaching unapproved boating courses. 5. Define the term "boat livery" and place certain restrictions on persons who rent and persons who operate rental boats. Update state law to coincide with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirements regarding safety controls and warning devices on approaches to dams on the Housatonic River. Updated Tuesday July 01, 2008 | |
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