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CS/CS/HB 427 — Recreational Vessel Registration
by Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee; Highway and Waterway Safety Subcommittee; and Rep. Magar and others (CS/SB 746 by Appropriations Committee and Senators Negron, Sachs, and Latvala)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Transportation Committee (TR)
The bill reduces state vessel registration fees for recreational vessels equipped with an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon, or for recreational vessels where the owner owns a Personal Locator Beacon. The beacon must be registered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in order for the owner to qualify for the reduced registration fee. A person who owns a personal locator beacon and who owns more than one recreational vessel qualifies to pay the reduced fee for only one vessel. The reduced vessel registration fees apply to applicable vessels registered between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017.
The bill allows the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to adopt rules specifying what constitutes as sufficient proof of having a registered beacon in order to qualify for the reduced registration fee and includes information the proof must contain. Additionally, the amount discounted between the full vessel registration fee and the actual amount paid shall be transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the department to be deposited, as specified in statute, in the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2016.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 115-0