Florida Senate - 2022                                    SB 1650
       
       
        
       By Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       23-01194-22                                           20221650__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to boating and vessel safety; amending
    3         s. 327.395, F.S.; requiring certain boating safety
    4         education courses and temporary certificate
    5         examinations to include specified components;
    6         directing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
    7         Commission to include such components in boating
    8         safety education campaigns and certain educational
    9         materials; amending s. 327.50, F.S.; requiring
   10         instructors of water sports and activities to wear
   11         engine cutoff switches under certain conditions;
   12         providing an effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 327.395, Florida
   17  Statutes, is amended to read:
   18         327.395 Boating safety education.—
   19         (4) A commission-approved boating safety education course
   20  or temporary certificate examination developed or approved by
   21  the commission must include components a component regarding:
   22         (a) Diving vessels, awareness of divers in the water,
   23  divers-down warning devices, and the requirements of s. 327.331.
   24         (b) The danger associated with:
   25         1. A passenger riding on a seat back, gunwale, transom,
   26  bow, motor cover, or any other vessel area not designed and
   27  designated by the manufacturer for seating.
   28         2. A passenger falling overboard.
   29         3. Operating a vessel with a person in the water near the
   30  vessel.
   31         4. Starting a vessel with the engine in gear.
   32         5. Leaving the vessel running when passengers are boarding
   33  or disembarking.
   34         (c) The proper use and lifesaving benefits of an engine
   35  cutoff switch for motorboats and personal watercraft.
   36  
   37  The commission must include the components under this subsection
   38  in boating safety education campaigns and in educational
   39  materials produced by the commission, as appropriate.
   40         Section 2. Subsection (4) is added to section 327.50,
   41  Florida Statutes, to read:
   42         327.50 Vessel safety regulations; equipment and lighting
   43  requirements.—
   44         (4) The instructor of a water sport or activity must wear
   45  an engine cutoff switch for any vessel used in the instruction
   46  of the water sport or activity when people participating in the
   47  water sport or activity are in the water.
   48         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.