1

A bill to be entitled

2

An act relating to vessel safety; amending s. 327.50,

3

F.S.; revising the requirements for floatation devices;

4

providing an effective date.

5

6

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

7

8

     Section 1.  Section 327.50, Florida Statutes, is amended to

9

read:

10

     327.50  Vessel safety regulations; equipment and lighting

11

requirements.--

12

     (1)(a)  The owner and operator of every vessel on the waters

13

of this state shall carry, store, maintain, and use safety

14

equipment in accordance with current United States Coast Guard

15

safety equipment requirements as specified in the Code of Federal

16

Regulations, unless expressly exempted by the department.

17

     (b)  No person shall operate a vessel less than 26 feet in

18

length on the waters of this state unless every person under 6

19

years of age on board the vessel is wearing an appropriate

20

personal floatation device approved by the a type I, type II, or

21

type III Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while

22

such vessel is underway. For the purpose of this section,

23

"underway" shall mean at all times except when a vessel is

24

anchored, moored, made fast to the shore, or aground.

25

     (2)  No person shall operate a vessel on the waters of this

26

state unless said vessel is equipped with properly serviceable

27

lights and shapes required by the navigation rules.

28

     (3)  The use of sirens or flashing, occulting, or revolving

29

lights on any vessel is prohibited, except as expressly provided

30

in the navigation rules or annexes thereto.

31

     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.