Florida Senate - 2011                                     SB 876
       
       
       
       By Senator Margolis
       
       
       
       
       35-01555-11                                            2011876__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to vessel safety regulations; amending
    3         s. 327.50, F.S.; removing state requirements for
    4         certain children to wear a personal flotation device
    5         while on board certain vessels; providing an effective
    6         date.
    7  
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 327.50, Florida
   11  Statutes, is amended to read:
   12         327.50 Vessel safety regulations; equipment and lighting
   13  requirements.—
   14         (1)(a) The owner and operator of every vessel on the waters
   15  of this state shall carry, store, maintain, and use safety
   16  equipment in accordance with current United States Coast Guard
   17  safety equipment requirements as specified in the Code of
   18  Federal Regulations, unless expressly exempted by the
   19  department.
   20         (b) No person shall operate a vessel less than 26 feet in
   21  length on the waters of this state unless every person under 6
   22  years of age on board the vessel is wearing a type I, type II,
   23  or type III Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while
   24  such vessel is underway. For the purpose of this section,
   25  “underway” shall mean at all times except when a vessel is
   26  anchored, moored, made fast to the shore, or aground.
   27         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.