Florida Senate - 2022 SB 606
By Senator Garcia
37-00535A-22 2022606__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to boating safety; providing a short
3 title; amending s. 327.30, F.S.; authorizing a court
4 to impose a specified fine for certain boating
5 collisions and accidents; requiring such fines to be
6 deposited into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust
7 Fund for specified purposes; defining the terms
8 “convicted” and “conviction”; amending s. 327.54,
9 F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting liveries, beginning
10 on a specified date, from offering a vessel for lease
11 or rent without a livery permit; specifying
12 requirements and qualifications for the permit;
13 authorizing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
14 Commission to adopt rules; providing penalties for
15 permit violations; revising the conditions under which
16 a livery may not knowingly lease or rent a vessel;
17 requiring specified boating safety education courses
18 for certain instructors; requiring a person receiving
19 safety instruction to provide the livery with a
20 specified signed attestation; requiring liveries to
21 report certain issues and accidents; requiring
22 liveries to make facilities and records available to
23 law enforcement upon notice; providing penalties for
24 violations and additional penalties for subsequent
25 violations; prohibiting violators from operating a
26 vessel or acting as a livery for a specified timeframe
27 after such a violation; authorizing the commission,
28 beginning on a specified date, to revoke or refuse to
29 issue permits for repeated violations; amending s.
30 327.73, F.S.; increasing fines for violations of
31 certain boating regulations; providing fines for
32 improper transfers of title and failures to update
33 vessel registration information; authorizing certain
34 fees and penalties deposited into the Marine Resources
35 Conservation Trust Fund to be used for law enforcement
36 purposes; amending s. 327.731, F.S.; imposing a fine
37 for persons convicted of certain criminal or
38 noncriminal infractions; providing for the deposit of
39 such fines into the Marine Resources Conservation
40 Trust Fund; requiring the commission to maintain a
41 program to ensure compliance with certain boating
42 safety education requirements; specifying requirements
43 for the program; amending s. 328.03, F.S.; providing
44 that an improper transfer of vessel title is subject
45 to a civil penalty; amending s. 328.48, F.S.;
46 requiring that the address provided in a vessel
47 registration application and a certificate of
48 registration be a physical residential or business
49 address; authorizing the commission to accept post
50 office box addresses in lieu of the physical
51 residential or business address under certain
52 circumstances; providing that a person who fails to
53 update his or her vessel registration information
54 within a specified timeframe is subject to a civil
55 penalty; providing an appropriation to, and
56 authorizing positions for, the commission to create an
57 Illegal Boating Strike Team; providing the duties of
58 the strike team; providing additional appropriations
59 to the commission and authorizing a position for a
60 specified purpose; providing effective dates.
61
62 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
63
64 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Boating Safety Act
65 of 2022.”
66 Section 2. Subsection (7) is added to section 327.30,
67 Florida Statutes, to read:
68 327.30 Collisions, accidents, and casualties.—
69 (7) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a
70 court may order a person convicted of a violation of this
71 section or of any rule adopted or order issued by the commission
72 pursuant to this section to pay an additional fine of up to
73 $1,000 per violation, which must be deposited into the Marine
74 Resources Conservation Trust Fund to be used to enhance state
75 and local law enforcement activities related to boating
76 infractions. As used in this subsection, the terms “convicted”
77 and “conviction” mean any judicial disposition other than
78 acquittal or dismissal.
79 Section 3. Section 327.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to
80 read:
81 327.54 Liveries; safety regulations; penalty.—
82 (1) As used in this section, the term:
83 (a) “Conviction” means any judicial disposition other than
84 acquittal or dismissal.
85 (b) “Livery” means a person who offers a vessel for use by
86 another in exchange for any type of consideration when such
87 person does not also provide the lessee or renter with a
88 captain, a crew, or any type of staff or personnel to operate,
89 oversee, maintain, or manage the vessel. A vessel rented or
90 leased by a livery is a livery vessel as defined in s. 327.02.
91 (c) “Seaworthy” means the vessel and all of its parts and
92 equipment, including, but not limited to, engines, bilge pumps,
93 and kill switches, are functional and reasonably fit for their
94 intended purpose.
95 (2) Beginning on January 1, 2023, a livery may not offer a
96 vessel for lease or rent without first being issued a no-cost
97 livery permit by the commission. The permit must be renewed
98 annually. To qualify for issuance or renewal of a livery permit,
99 an applicant must provide the commission with a list of all
100 vessels offered by the livery for lease or rent by another, have
101 valid insurance pursuant to paragraph (3)(j), have an amount of
102 United States Coast Guard-approved lawful personal floatation
103 devices on site sufficient to accommodate the capacity of all
104 vessels offered by the livery for rent or lease by another, have
105 on site all safety equipment required by s. 327.50 and the Code
106 of Federal Regulations sufficient to equip all vessels offered
107 by the livery for rent or lease by another, and display the
108 information required by paragraph (3)(f). If, before the annual
109 renewal of the permit, the information required by this
110 subsection changes, the livery must provide the commission with
111 the updated information within 10 days after the change.
112 (a) The commission may adopt rules to implement this
113 subsection.
114 (b) A person who violates this subsection commits a
115 misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
116 775.082 or s. 775.083.
117 (3) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
118 vessel to any person:
119 (a) When the number of persons intending to use the vessel
120 exceeds the number considered to constitute a maximum safety
121 load for the vessel as specified on the authorized persons
122 capacity plate of the vessel.
123 (b) When the horsepower of the motor exceeds the capacity
124 of the vessel.
125 (c) When the vessel does not contain the required safety
126 equipment required under s. 327.50.
127 (d) When the vessel is not seaworthy, is a derelict vessel
128 as defined in s. 823.11, or is at risk of becoming derelict as
129 provided in s. 327.4107.
130 (e) When the vessel is equipped with a motor of 10
131 horsepower or greater, Unless the livery provides pre-rental
132 prerental or pre-ride preride instruction in compliance with
133 rules established by the commission. The instruction must
134 include that includes, but need not be limited to:
135 1. Operational characteristics of the vessel to be rented.
136 2. Safe vessel operation and vessel right-of-way.
137 3. The responsibility of the vessel operator for the safe
138 and proper operation of the vessel.
139 4. Local characteristics of the waterway where the vessel
140 will be operated, such as navigational hazards, the presence of
141 boating-restricted areas, and water depths.
142 5. Emergency procedures such as appropriate responses to
143 capsizing, falls overboard, taking on water, and vessel
144 accidents.
145
146 Any person delivering the information specified in this
147 paragraph must have successfully completed a boater safety
148 course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
149 Administrators and this state.
150 (f) Unless the livery displays boating safety information
151 in a place visible to the renting public. The commission shall
152 prescribe by rule, pursuant to chapter 120, the contents and
153 size of the boating safety information to be displayed.
154 (g) Unless the livery has a written agreement with the
155 renter or lessee. The written agreement must include a list of
156 the names, addresses, and dates of birth for all persons who
157 will be aboard the vessel, as well as the time the vessel is
158 required to be returned to the livery or another specified
159 location and an emergency contact name, address, and telephone
160 number. The livery shall maintain each agreement for no less
161 than 1 year and, upon request, make each agreement available for
162 inspection by law enforcement.
163 (h) Who is required to comply with s. 327.395, unless such
164 person presents to the livery the documentation required by s.
165 327.395(2) for the operation of a vessel or meets the exemption
166 provided under s. 327.395(6)(f).
167 (i) Who is under 18 years of age.
168 (j) Unless the livery first obtains and carries in full
169 force and effect a policy from a licensed insurance carrier in
170 this state which insures the livery against any accident, loss,
171 injury, property damage, or other casualty caused by or
172 resulting from the operation of the vessel. The insurance policy
173 must provide coverage of at least $500,000 per person and $1
174 million per event. The livery shall have proof of such insurance
175 available for inspection at the location where the livery’s
176 vessels are being leased or rented, or offered for lease or
177 rent, and shall provide to each renter the insurance carrier’s
178 name and address and the insurance policy number.
179 (4) Notwithstanding the person’s age or any exemptions
180 provided in s. 327.395, any person delivering instruction
181 regarding the safe operation of vessels or pre-rental or pre
182 ride instruction in accordance with subsection (3) must have
183 successfully completed a boating safety education course
184 approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
185 Administrators and this state.
186 (5) A person who receives instruction regarding the safe
187 operation of vessels or pre-rental or pre-ride instruction in
188 accordance with subsection (3) must provide the livery with a
189 signed form attesting to each component of the instruction.
190 (a) The commission shall establish by rule the content of
191 the form.
192 (b) The form must be signed by the individual providing the
193 instruction.
194 (c) The livery shall maintain the form for no less than 90
195 days and, upon request, make the form available for inspection
196 by law enforcement.
197 (2) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
198 vessel to a person who is required to comply with s. 327.395
199 unless such person presents to the livery the documentation
200 required by s. 327.395(2) for the operation of a vessel or meets
201 the exemption provided under s. 327.395(6)(f).
202 (6)(3) If a vessel rented or leased by a livery is
203 unnecessarily overdue more than 1 hour after the contracted
204 vessel rental time has expired, the livery must shall notify law
205 enforcement and the United States Coast Guard the proper
206 authorities.
207 (7) If a vessel rented or leased by a livery is involved in
208 an accident, the livery must, as applicable under s. 327.301,
209 report the accident.
210 (8) A livery shall make its facilities and records
211 available for inspection upon request by law enforcement no
212 later than 24 hours after receiving notice from law enforcement.
213 (9)(a) A person who violates this section other than
214 subsection (2), but who has not been convicted of a violation of
215 this section within the past 3 years, commits a misdemeanor of
216 the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
217 775.083.
218 (b) Unless the stricter penalties in paragraph (c) apply, a
219 person who violates this section other than subsection (2)
220 within 3 years after a previous conviction of a violation of
221 this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
222 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a
223 minimum mandatory fine of $500.
224 (c) A person who violates this section other than
225 subsection (2) within 5 years after two previous convictions for
226 a violation of this section commits a misdemeanor of the first
227 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with
228 a minimum mandatory fine of $1,000.
229 (10) A person who commits more than one violation of this
230 section, other than subsection (2), within a 3-year period may
231 not act as a livery during a 90-day period immediately after
232 being charged with that violation. Beginning January 1, 2023,
233 the commission may revoke or refuse to issue a permit under
234 subsection (2) based on repeated violations of this section.
235 (4)(a) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
236 personal watercraft to any person who is under 18 years of age.
237 (b) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
238 personal watercraft to any person who has not received
239 instruction in the safe handling of personal watercraft, in
240 compliance with rules established by the commission pursuant to
241 chapter 120.
242 (c) Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling
243 of personal watercraft pursuant to a program established by rule
244 of the commission must provide the livery with a written
245 statement attesting to the same.
246 (5) A livery may not lease, hire, or rent any personal
247 watercraft or offer to lease, hire, or rent any personal
248 watercraft unless the livery first obtains and carries in full
249 force and effect a policy from a licensed insurance carrier in
250 this state, insuring against any accident, loss, injury,
251 property damage, or other casualty caused by or resulting from
252 the operation of the personal watercraft. The insurance policy
253 shall provide coverage of at least $500,000 per person and $1
254 million per event. The livery must have proof of such insurance
255 available for inspection at the location where personal
256 watercraft are being leased, hired, or rented, or offered for
257 lease, hire, or rent, and shall provide to each renter the
258 insurance carrier’s name and address and the insurance policy
259 number.
260 (6) Any person convicted of violating this section commits
261 a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
262 775.082 or s. 775.083.
263 Section 4. Subsections (1) and (8) of section 327.73,
264 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
265 327.73 Noncriminal infractions.—
266 (1) Violations of the following provisions of the vessel
267 laws of this state are noncriminal infractions:
268 (a) Section 328.46, relating to operation of unregistered
269 and unnumbered vessels.
270 (b) Section 328.48(4), relating to display of number and
271 possession of registration certificate.
272 (c) Section 328.48(5), relating to display of decal.
273 (d) Section 328.52(2), relating to display of number.
274 (e) Section 328.54, relating to spacing of digits and
275 letters of identification number.
276 (f) Section 328.60, relating to military personnel and
277 registration of vessels.
278 (g) Section 328.72(13), relating to operation with an
279 expired registration, for which the penalty is:
280 1. For a first or subsequent offense of s. 328.72(13)(a),
281 up to a maximum of $100 $50.
282 2. For a first offense of s. 328.72(13)(b), up to a maximum
283 of $250.
284 3. For a second or subsequent offense of s. 328.72(13)(b),
285 up to a maximum of $500. Any person cited for a noncriminal
286 infraction under this subparagraph may not have the provisions
287 of paragraph (4)(a) available to him or her but must appear
288 before the designated official at the time and location of the
289 scheduled hearing.
290 (h) Section 327.33(2), relating to careless operation.
291 (i) Section 327.37, relating to water skiing, aquaplaning,
292 parasailing, and similar activities.
293 (j) Section 327.44, relating to interference with
294 navigation.
295 (k) Violations relating to boating-restricted areas and
296 speed limits:
297 1. Established by the commission or by local governmental
298 authorities pursuant to s. 327.46.
299 2. Speed limits established pursuant to s. 379.2431(2).
300 (l) Section 327.48, relating to regattas and races.
301 (m) Section 327.50(1) and (2), relating to required safety
302 equipment, lights, and shapes.
303 (n) Section 327.65, relating to muffling devices.
304 (o) Section 327.33(3)(b), relating to a violation of
305 navigation rules:
306 1. That does not result in an accident; or
307 2. That results in an accident not causing serious bodily
308 injury or death, for which the penalty is:
309 a. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $500 $250.
310 b. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $1,000 $750.
311 c. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
312 $1,500 $1,000.
313 (p) Section 327.39(1), (2), (3), and (5), relating to
314 personal watercraft.
315 (q) Section 327.53(1), (2), (3), and (8), relating to
316 marine sanitation.
317 (r) Section 327.53(4), (5), and (7), relating to marine
318 sanitation, and s. 327.60, relating to no-discharge zones, for
319 which the civil penalty is $250.
320 (s) Section 327.395, relating to boater safety education.
321 However, a person cited for violating the requirements of s.
322 327.395 relating to failure to have required proof of boating
323 safety education in his or her possession may not be convicted
324 if, before or at the time of a county court hearing, the person
325 produces proof of the boating safety education identification
326 card or temporary certificate for verification by the hearing
327 officer or the court clerk and the identification card or
328 temporary certificate was valid at the time the person was
329 cited.
330 (t) Section 327.52(3), relating to operation of overloaded
331 or overpowered vessels.
332 (u) Section 327.331, relating to divers-down warning
333 devices, except for violations meeting the requirements of
334 s. 327.33.
335 (v) Section 327.391(1), relating to the requirement for an
336 adequate muffler on an airboat.
337 (w) Section 327.391(3), relating to the display of a flag
338 on an airboat.
339 (x) Section 253.04(3)(a), relating to carelessly causing
340 seagrass scarring, for which the civil penalty upon conviction
341 is:
342 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
343 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
344 prior conviction, $250.
345 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
346 prior conviction, $500.
347 4. For a fourth or subsequent offense occurring within 72
348 months after a prior conviction, $1,000.
349 (y) Section 327.45, relating to protection zones for
350 springs, for which the penalty is:
351 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
352 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
353 prior conviction, $250.
354 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
355 prior conviction, $500.
356 4. For a fourth or subsequent offense occurring within 72
357 months after a prior conviction, $1,000.
358 (z) Section 327.4108, relating to the anchoring of vessels
359 in anchoring limitation areas, for which the penalty is:
360 1. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $100 $50.
361 2. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $250 $100.
362 3. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
363 $500 $250.
364 (aa) Section 327.4107, relating to vessels at risk of
365 becoming derelict on waters of this state, for which the civil
366 penalty is:
367 1. For a first offense, $100.
368 2. For a second offense occurring 30 days or more after a
369 first offense, $250.
370 3. For a third or subsequent offense occurring 30 days or
371 more after a previous offense, $500.
372
373 A vessel that is the subject of three or more violations issued
374 pursuant to the same paragraph of s. 327.4107(2) within an 18
375 month period which result in dispositions other than acquittal
376 or dismissal shall be declared to be a public nuisance and
377 subject to ss. 705.103(2) and (4) and 823.11(3). The commission,
378 an officer of the commission, or a law enforcement agency or
379 officer specified in s. 327.70 may relocate, remove, or cause to
380 be relocated or removed such public nuisance vessels from waters
381 of this state. The commission, an officer of the commission, or
382 a law enforcement agency or officer acting pursuant to this
383 paragraph upon waters of this state shall be held harmless for
384 all damages to the vessel resulting from such relocation or
385 removal unless the damage results from gross negligence or
386 willful misconduct as these terms are defined in s. 823.11.
387 (bb) Section 327.4109, relating to anchoring or mooring in
388 a prohibited area, for which the penalty is:
389 1. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $100 $50.
390 2. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $250 $100.
391 3. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
392 $500 $250.
393 (cc) Section 327.463(4)(a) and (b), relating to vessels
394 creating special hazards, for which the penalty is:
395 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
396 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
397 prior offense, $250 $100.
398 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
399 prior offense, $500 $250.
400 (dd) Section 327.371, relating to the regulation of human
401 powered vessels.
402 (ee) Section 328.03, relating to an improper transfer of
403 title, for which the penalty is up to a maximum of $500.
404 (ff) Section 328.48(9), relating to the failure to update
405 vessel registration information, for which the penalty is up to
406 a maximum of $500.
407
408 Any person cited for a violation of any provision of this
409 subsection shall be deemed to be charged with a noncriminal
410 infraction, shall be cited for such an infraction, and shall be
411 cited to appear before the county court. The civil penalty for
412 any such infraction is $100 $50, except as otherwise provided in
413 this section. Any person who fails to appear or otherwise
414 properly respond to a uniform boating citation shall, in
415 addition to the charge relating to the violation of the boating
416 laws of this state, must be charged with the offense of failing
417 to respond to such citation and, upon conviction, be guilty of a
418 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
419 775.082 or s. 775.083. A written warning to this effect shall be
420 provided at the time such uniform boating citation is issued.
421 (8) All fees and civil penalties assessed and collected
422 pursuant to this section shall be remitted by the clerk of the
423 court to the Department of Revenue to be deposited into the
424 Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund for boating safety
425 education or law enforcement purposes.
426 Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 327.731, Florida
427 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to that
428 section, to read:
429 327.731 Mandatory education for violators.—
430 (1) A person convicted of a criminal violation under this
431 chapter, convicted of a noncriminal infraction under this
432 chapter if the infraction resulted in a reportable boating
433 accident, or convicted of two noncriminal infractions as
434 specified in s. 327.73(1)(h)-(k), (m), (o), (p), and (s)-(y),
435 the said infractions occurring within a 12-month period, must:
436 (a) Enroll in, attend, and successfully complete, at his or
437 her own expense, a classroom or online boating safety course
438 that is approved by and meets the minimum standards established
439 by commission rule;
440 (b) File with the commission within 90 days proof of
441 successful completion of the course; and
442 (c) Refrain from operating a vessel until he or she has
443 filed proof of successful completion of the course with the
444 commission; and
445 (d) Pay a fine of $500. The clerk of the court shall remit
446 all fines assessed and collected under this paragraph to the
447 Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine Resources
448 Conservation Trust Fund to support law enforcement activities.
449 (4) The commission shall maintain a program to ensure
450 compliance with the mandatory boating safety education
451 requirements under this section. This program must:
452 (a) Track any citations resulting in a conviction under
453 this section and the disposition of such citations.
454 (b) Send specific notices to each person subject to the
455 requirement for mandatory boating safety education.
456 Section 6. Subsection (3) of section 328.03, Florida
457 Statutes, is amended to read:
458 328.03 Certificate of title required.—
459 (3) A person may shall not sell, assign, or transfer a
460 vessel titled by the state without delivering to the purchaser
461 or transferee a valid certificate of title with an assignment on
462 it showing the transfer of title to the purchaser or transferee.
463 A person may shall not purchase or otherwise acquire a vessel
464 required to be titled by the state without obtaining a
465 certificate of title for the vessel in his or her name. The
466 purchaser or transferee shall, within 30 days after a change in
467 vessel ownership, file an application for a title transfer with
468 the county tax collector. An additional $10 fee must shall be
469 charged against the purchaser or transferee if he or she files a
470 title transfer application after the 30-day period. The county
471 tax collector may shall be entitled to retain $5 of the
472 additional amount. Any person who does not properly transfer
473 title of a vessel pursuant to this chapter is subject to the
474 penalties provided in s. 327.73(1)(ee).
475 Section 7. Effective July 1, 2023, subsection (4) of
476 section 328.03, Florida Statutes, as amended by chapter 2019-76,
477 Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
478 328.03 Certificate of title required.—
479 (4) An additional $10 fee shall be charged against the
480 purchaser or transferee if he or she files a title transfer
481 application after the 30-day period. The county tax collector
482 may shall be entitled to retain $5 of the additional amount. Any
483 person who does not properly transfer title of a vessel pursuant
484 to this chapter is subject to the penalties provided in s.
485 327.73(1)(ee).
486 Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
487 (4) of section 328.48, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
488 subsection (9) is added to that section, to read:
489 328.48 Vessel registration, application, certificate,
490 number, decal, duplicate certificate.—
491 (1)(a) The owner of each vessel required by this law to pay
492 a registration fee and secure an identification number shall
493 file an application with the county tax collector. The
494 application must shall provide the owner’s name and physical
495 residential or business address; residency status; personal or
496 business identification; and a complete description of the
497 vessel, and must shall be accompanied by payment of the
498 applicable fee required in s. 328.72. An individual applicant
499 must provide a valid driver license or identification card
500 issued by this state or another state or a valid passport. A
501 business applicant must provide a federal employer
502 identification number, if applicable, verification that the
503 business is authorized to conduct business in this the state, or
504 a Florida city or county business license or number.
505 Registration is not required for any vessel that is not used on
506 the waters of this state. Upon receipt of an application from a
507 live-aboard vessel owner, the commission may authorize such
508 owner to provide a post office box address in lieu of a physical
509 residential or business address so long as he or she has not
510 been convicted of a criminal offense under this chapter or
511 chapter 327.
512 (4) Each certificate of registration issued must shall
513 state among other items the numbers awarded to the vessel, the
514 hull identification number, the name and physical residential or
515 business address of the owner, and a description of the vessel,
516 except that certificates of registration for vessels constructed
517 or assembled by the owner registered for the first time must
518 shall state all the foregoing information except the hull
519 identification number. The numbers must shall be placed on each
520 side of the forward half of the vessel in such position as to
521 provide clear legibility for identification, except, if the
522 vessel is an airboat, the numbers may be placed on each side of
523 the rudder. The numbers awarded to the vessel must shall read
524 from left to right and must shall be in block characters of good
525 proportion not less than 3 inches in height. The numbers must
526 shall be of a solid color that which will contrast with the
527 color of the background and must shall be so maintained as to be
528 clearly visible and legible; i.e., dark numbers on a light
529 background or light numbers on a dark background. The
530 certificate of registration must shall be pocket-sized and must
531 shall be available for inspection on the vessel for which issued
532 whenever such vessel is in operation. Upon receipt of an
533 application from a live-aboard vessel owner, the commission may
534 authorize such owner to provide a post office box address in
535 lieu of a physical residential address so long as he or she has
536 not been convicted of a criminal offense under this chapter or
537 chapter 327.
538 (9) A person who does not update his or her vessel
539 registration information with the county tax collector within 6
540 months after a change to the information is subject to the
541 penalties provided in s. 327.73(1)(ff).
542 Section 9. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of $2
543 million in recurring funds is appropriated from the General
544 Revenue Fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
545 and 7 full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate
546 of 322,763 are authorized to create an Illegal Boating Strike
547 Team for the purpose of coordinating law enforcement at the
548 federal, state, and local levels to increase public safety and
549 decrease boating accidents, injuries, fatalities, and criminal
550 activity. In areas where illegal charters and illegal liveries
551 are found to be operating, the strike team shall do all of the
552 following:
553 (1) Enhance law enforcement activities by increasing
554 intergovernmental coordination to address any criminal conduct
555 or safety violations, taxes and fees, and licensure regulations
556 by such charter and livery operations.
557 (2) Address unsafe customer pick-ups and drop-offs.
558 (3) Improve signage and set appropriate speed limits in
559 waterways.
560 (4) Ensure that correct and current information is used for
561 vessel registration.
562 (5) Publicize existing reporting systems and use social
563 media to encourage citizens to report illegal activities.
564 (6) Develop educational campaigns to address and deter
565 illegal charter operations, illegal livery operations, boating
566 under the influence, and related public safety issues and to
567 encourage the reporting of boating violations.
568 Section 10. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of
569 $100,000 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
570 appropriated to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
571 and one full-time equivalent position with associated salary
572 rate of 60,000 is authorized to implement the amendment made to
573 s. 327.731, Florida Statutes, by this act relating to ensuring
574 compliance with mandatory boating safety education requirements.
575 Section 11. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of
576 $125,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
577 appropriated to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
578 for the purpose of implementing the livery permitting
579 requirement in s. 327.54(2), Florida Statutes.
580 Section 12. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
581 act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2022.