Meeting
Notes
National Recreational Boating Safety Coalition
January 18, 2006
The Coalition met on January 18, 2006, at the National Marine Manufacturers
Association's offices, in Washington, DC. Tom O'Day chaired the meeting.
NASBLA
Since no NASBLA representative was present, Tom O'Day briefed coalition
participants on the NASBLA update provided by John Johnson. NASBLA is working
with the American League of Anglers and Boaters (ALAB) to reexamine the League's
organizational structure, and to clarify bylaws regarding membership and
participation. ALAB will take up issues related to the newly renamed Sport Fish
Restoration and Boating Trust Fund funding formulas.
NASBLA's Executive Board will meet in Washington, DC in February to resume work
on the association's strategic plan, and to set the agenda for a new Boating Law
Administrators' spring workshop. The Board also will be filling the vacant
Treasurer's position that was created when Treasurer Corby Christianson left his
post as Idaho's BLA in November.
NASBLA kicks off its 2006 committee meeting schedule with its Homeland Security
and Emergency Response Committee meeting this week in Washington, DC Committee
members will be making courtesy calls to their state's Congressional delegations
to make the case for providing homeland security funding for the state boating
programs.
Coast Guard
Jeff Hoedt reported that the recreational boating safety program's strategic
planning process continues with a planning meeting scheduled for February 4-6.
Among the goals is an increase in PFD usage from 22 to 44 percent of boaters.
The effort continues to identify measurable objectives.
Wallop-Breaux fund grants to nonprofit organizations are increasing to $4.7
million. The application deadline is January 23. There will be about 25-30
grants in amounts up to $400,000. NASBLA and NSBC generally receive the largest
awards.
The Coast Guard is revamping its policy regarding testimony before state
legislatures. It will allow the Auxiliary to testify as a representative of the
Coast Guard. The policy must be coordinated with the Department of Homeland
Security. In light of this development. Ev Tucker (Auxiliary) expressed an
interest in seeing examples of boating safety testimony that other coalition
participants have used.
A new work group has been created to look at propeller strikes. It includes
manufacturers, users, and others with an interest. This grows, in part, from
interest in the subject expressed by Rep. James Oberstar.
National Transportation Safety Board
The Safety Board's investigation of the Ethan Allen capsizing on Lake George,
New York has led to a broader look into state regulation of passenger vessels on
sole state waters. Safety Board investigators are continuing to work with
NASBLA to review state commercial passenger vessel regulations. It is the
Board's goal to have the report completed by summer.
The Board is scheduled to meet on March 7 to adopt the final report in the
investigation of the Lady D accident in Baltimore Harbor.
Work continues on review and analysis of materials presented at the Safety
Board's August 2004 forum, "Personal Flotation Devices in Recreational
Boating." Coalition participants are invited to offer their suggestions
regarding the most effective ways to distribute the report and recommendations
when completed.
State Legislative Action
Steve Blackistone and Bill Gossard (NTSB) led a discussion of 2006 initial
legislative activities and prospects. Coalition participants are reminded that
the coalition has identified four target states for 2006: California, Iowa,
Virginia, and Wisconsin
All Coalition participants are urged to involve their local affiliates or
membership in these efforts. Also, please help the Coalition keep abreast of
state legislative activities by informing Steve Blackistone (blackis@ntsb.gov)
or Tom O'Day (nrbscoalition@aol.com)
of any legislative activities about which you become aware.
State legislative activity of interest includes:
PFD Use Requirements for Children
Indiana (1/10 - 3/10)
Bills should be introduced in both legislative bodies to close the loophole in
current law that PFD use requirement is not applicable to children on sole State
waters.
Contact: Burgess Brown, DNR Legislative Liaison (317) 233-6904
Iowa (1/9 - 4/19)
Bills to establish a PFD use requirement will be introduced in 2006 with active
support from the Department of Natural Resources. NTSB Acting Chairman Mark
Rosenker will be meeting with legislators and Iowa DNR officials on February
1-2.
Contact: Randy Edwards, Department of Natural Resources, (515) 281-6154
Diane Ford-Shivvers, DNR Policy & Coordination, (515) 281-6341
New York (1/4 - 1/3/07)
The full Assembly approved legislation requiring all persons aboard vessels less
than 21 feet long to wear a PFD between November 1 and May 1. The Senate bill
was approved by the Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development Committee, but
recommitted to Rules. The bills carry over to 2006. (A.7818/Morelle; S.4128/Maziarz)
Contact: Brian Kempf, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
(518) 474-0445
Virginia (1/11 - 3/11)
NTSB Acting Chairman and Bill Gossard have met with Virginia officials who are
supportive. There are reports that there is increased interest from the Smith
Mountain Lake region as a result of several fatalities there this year. As a
result, officials are optimistic about passage in 2006.
Contact: Charles Sledd, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (804)
367-6481
Sen. Louise Lucas, (804) 698-7518
Wisconsin (1/10 - 5/18)
Legislation requiring children age 12 and under to use PFDs passed the Senate in
November 2005 but was not acted upon by the Assembly. The Assembly Natural
Resources Committee unanimously approved the companion bill. Both bills are
pending in Rules Committee. The BLA and Power Squadron expect supporters to
press for a full Assembly vote. (S.B. 135/Roessler; A.B. 260/Freese)
Contact: Assy. Tony Staskunas/Adrienne Rameriez (608) 266-0620.
Bill Engfer, Department of Natural Resources (608) 266-0859
Sen. Carol Roessler (608) 266-5300
Other states where action is possible: Florida, New Hampshire and New Mexico
Mandatory Boater Education
California (1/4 - 8/31)
NTSB Acting Chairman Rosenker and Bill Gossard met with staff of Governor
Schwarzenegger, California Resources Agency and California Department of Boating
and Waterways on October 24. The California Sheriffs Association is drafting a
bill, and boating law administrator has been directed to call together a task
force of interested California organizations to develop mutually acceptable
legislation.
Contact: Ray Tsuneyoshi (916) 263-4326,
rtsuneyoshi@dbw.ca.gov
Iowa (1/9 - 5/19)
NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker will be meeting with legislators and Iowa DNR
officials on February 1-2.
Contact: Randy Edwards, Department of Natural Resources, (515) 281-6154
Diane Ford-Shivvers, DNR Policy & Coordination, (515) 281-6341
Maine (1/4 - 4/19)
NTSB met with Rep. Thom Watson and Sen. Bruce Bryant, Co-Chairs of the Joint
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee on January 9 to discuss mandatory boater
education legislation.
Massachusetts (1/4 - 1/2/07)
The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security approved mandatory
boater education legislation in December 2005 but neither the full Senate nor
the House acted upon it. H.B. 4543 has been introduced as a substitute for Rep.
Gomes' bill. (H.B. 1933/Gomes; H.B. 4543/Public Safety)
Contact: Rep. Shirley Gomes (617) 722-2803
New Jersey (1/10 - 1/8/07) NEW LAW
Senate and Assembly agreed to NASBLA's mandatory education standards. Then the
Governor on January 9 signed A. 2624, which was a carryover from the previous
session, into law as P.L. 2005, C. 292.
Oklahoma (2/6 - 5/26)
Sen. Kenneth Corn (D-Howe) has expressed interest in introducing a boater safety
education bill in 2006. NTSB may schedule a meeting with him in early 2006.
Contact: Sen. Kenneth Corn (405) 521-5576
Virginia (1/11 - 3/11)
Mandatory boater safety education has been introduced in both House and Senate,
and referred to the respective Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Committee. Hearings have not yet been scheduled. (H.B. 872/Byron; S.B.
528/Newman)
Contact: Charles Sledd, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
(804) 367-6481 Sen. Louise Lucas, (804) 698-7518
Wisconsin (1/9 - 3/17)
There is great optimism that mandatory education legislation will be enacted by
March. The Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee heard the
assembly passed bill on January 5, and approved it on January 12 by a 4-1 vote.
Sen. Olson has agreed to allow the Assembly bill to be one that moves. Governor
Doyle is expected to sign the final bill. (A.B. 248/Hines; S.B. 471/Olson)
Contact: Assy. J.A. Hines (608) 266-7746
Bill Engfer, Department of Natural Resources (608) 266-0859
Other States that have indicated interest in pursuing boating education include:
Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana (2007), North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Utah.
NEXT MEETINGS
The coalition will next meet on Wednesday, February 8, and Monday,
March 27 (note -- new date of the month and week for the March meeting).