U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Office of Government Affairs
New York
Area Coordinator:
Stu Soffer, N-LAE
State Liaison:
1SR: Louis Liotti
9ER: Paul Leuchner
Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Coast Guard Auxiliary District: 1NR and 9ER
Coast Guard District: 1st and 9th
Second Quarter Report, 2009:
The "Life Jacket Wear" Bill is currently successfully winding its way through the Legislature. The assembly version of the Bill (A6784) passed the Assembly and was approved. The senate version of the Bill (S3024) has cleared the Tourism Committee and the Codes Committee, and it is anticipated that the bill will be passed and approved by the Senate before the Legislature ends its current session, at the end of June 2009. Since the bill was an executive initiative, it is anticipated that the Governor will sign the bill into law as soon as it passes the Senate. As a brief recap, this legislation mandates the wearing of a life jacket by all persons on all vessels, sail, power and paddle, under 21' in length, from November 1 through May 1. We believe this piece of legislation is a first of its kind in the nation.
The Marine Services Division of the Department of Parks and Recreation reports that boat registrations are down in New York State from a high of 531,000 in 2003, down to 488,167 in 2008, the last year for which this information is available.
Departmental legislation proposed by the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Bureau of Marine and Recreational Vehicles has been approved by the New York State Senate and Assembly. The bill entitled “An Act to Amend the Navigation Law, in Relation to the Wearing of Personal Floatation Devices When Underway on a Pleasure Vessel less than Twenty-One Feet” mandates the wearing of life jackets from November 1rst to May 1rst. The Legislation is intended to decrease boating-related injuries and fatalities during the months of the year when water temperatures are at their coldest. The term "pleasure vessel" includes motorized boats as well as non-motorized vessels such as kayaks, canoes, and other paddle powered craft. Senator Antoine Thompson (S03024) and Assemblyman Steve Englebright (A06784) sponsored this legislation. At this time the bill is currently in the State Assembly awaiting word from the Governor that he is ready to sign the measure into law. It is possible that enactment may take place during the remaining days of the current legislative session. However, if the struggle over the control of the State Senate continues it is likely that the action will not be taken until the next legislative session.