Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 606
By the Committee on Appropriations; and Senator Garcia
576-03236-22 2022606c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to boating safety; providing a short
3 title; amending s. 327.02, F.S.; revising the
4 definition of the term “livery vessel”; amending s.
5 327.30, F.S.; authorizing a court to impose a
6 specified fine for certain boating collisions and
7 accidents; requiring such fines to be deposited into
8 the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund for
9 specified purposes; defining the terms “convicted” and
10 “conviction”; amending s. 327.54, F.S.; defining
11 terms; prohibiting liveries, beginning on a specified
12 date, from offering a vessel for lease or rent without
13 a livery permit; specifying requirements and
14 qualifications for the permit; authorizing the Fish
15 and Wildlife Conservation Commission to adopt rules;
16 providing penalties for permit violations; revising
17 the conditions under which a livery may not knowingly
18 lease or rent a vessel; requiring a person receiving
19 safety instruction to provide the livery with a
20 specified signed attestation; requiring a written
21 agreement between a livery and a renter or lessee;
22 providing requirements for such agreement; providing
23 that a livery must insure livery vessels and offer
24 insurance to renters; requiring specified boating
25 safety education courses for certain instructors;
26 requiring liveries to report certain accidents to the
27 Division of Law Enforcement of the commission;
28 requiring liveries to make facilities and records
29 available to law enforcement upon notice; providing
30 penalties for violations and additional penalties for
31 subsequent violations; prohibiting violators from
32 operating a vessel or acting as a livery for a
33 specified timeframe after such a violation;
34 authorizing the commission, beginning on a specified
35 date, to revoke or refuse to issue permits for
36 repeated violations; amending s. 327.73, F.S.;
37 increasing fines for violations of certain boating
38 regulations; providing fines for improper transfers of
39 title and failures to update vessel registration
40 information; authorizing certain fees and penalties
41 deposited into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust
42 Fund to be used for law enforcement purposes; amending
43 s. 327.731, F.S.; imposing a fine for persons
44 convicted of certain criminal or noncriminal
45 infractions; providing for the deposit of such fines
46 into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund;
47 requiring the commission to maintain a program to
48 ensure compliance with certain boating safety
49 education requirements; specifying requirements for
50 the program; amending s. 328.03, F.S.; providing that
51 an improper transfer of vessel title is subject to a
52 civil penalty; amending s. 328.48, F.S.; requiring
53 that the address provided in a vessel registration
54 application and a certificate of registration be a
55 physical residential or business address; authorizing
56 the commission to accept post office box addresses in
57 lieu of the physical residential or business address;
58 providing that a person who fails to update his or her
59 vessel registration information within a specified
60 timeframe is subject to a civil penalty; providing an
61 appropriation to, and authorizing positions for, the
62 commission to create an Illegal Boating Strike Team;
63 providing the duties of the strike team; providing
64 additional appropriations to the commission and
65 authorizing a position for a specified purpose;
66 providing effective dates.
67
68 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
69
70 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Boating Safety Act
71 of 2022.”
72 Section 2. Subsection (24) of section 327.02, Florida
73 Statutes, is amended to read:
74 327.02 Definitions.—As used in this chapter and in chapter
75 328, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning,
76 the term:
77 (24) “Livery vessel” means a vessel leased, rented, or
78 chartered to another for consideration. A livery vessel does not
79 include a human-powered vessel.
80 Section 3. Subsection (7) is added to section 327.30,
81 Florida Statutes, to read:
82 327.30 Collisions, accidents, and casualties.—
83 (7) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a
84 court may order a person convicted of a violation of this
85 section or of any rule adopted or order issued by the commission
86 pursuant to this section to pay an additional fine of up to
87 $1,000 per violation. All fines assessed and collected pursuant
88 to this subsection shall be remitted by the clerk of the court
89 to the Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine
90 Resources Conservation Trust Fund to be used to enhance state
91 and local law enforcement activities related to boating
92 infractions. As used in this subsection, the terms “convicted”
93 and “conviction” mean any judicial disposition other than
94 acquittal or dismissal.
95 Section 4. Section 327.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to
96 read:
97 327.54 Liveries; safety regulations; penalty.—
98 (1) As used in this section, the term:
99 (a) “Conviction” means any judicial disposition other than
100 acquittal or dismissal.
101 (b) “Livery” means a person who advertises and offers a
102 livery vessel for use by another in exchange for any type of
103 consideration when such person does not also provide the lessee
104 or renter with a captain, a crew, or any type of staff or
105 personnel to operate, oversee, maintain, or manage the vessel.
106 The owner of a vessel who does not advertise his or her vessel
107 for use by another for consideration and who loans or offers his
108 or her vessel for use to another known to him or her either for
109 consideration or without consideration is not a livery. A vessel
110 rented or leased by a livery is a livery vessel as defined in s.
111 327.02.
112 (c) “Seaworthy” means the vessel and all of its parts and
113 equipment, including, but not limited to, engines, bilge pumps,
114 and kill switches, are functional and reasonably fit for their
115 intended purpose.
116 (2) Beginning on January 1, 2023, a livery may not offer a
117 vessel for lease or rent without first being issued a no-cost
118 livery permit by the commission. The permit must be renewed
119 annually. To qualify for issuance or renewal of a livery permit,
120 an applicant must provide the commission with a list of all
121 vessels offered by the livery for lease or rent by another, have
122 valid insurance pursuant to subsection (7), have an amount of
123 United States Coast Guard-approved lawful personal floatation
124 devices on site sufficient to accommodate the capacity of all
125 vessels offered by the livery for rent or lease by another, have
126 on site all safety equipment required by s. 327.50 and the Code
127 of Federal Regulations sufficient to equip all vessels offered
128 by the livery for rent or lease by another, and display the
129 information required by paragraph (3)(f). If, before the annual
130 renewal of the permit, the information required by this
131 subsection changes, the livery must provide the commission with
132 the updated information within 10 days after the change.
133 (a) The commission may adopt rules to implement this
134 subsection.
135 (b) A person who violates this subsection commits a
136 misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
137 775.082 or s. 775.083.
138 (3) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
139 vessel to any person:
140 (a) When the number of persons intending to use the vessel
141 exceeds the number considered to constitute a maximum safety
142 load for the vessel as specified on the authorized persons
143 capacity plate of the vessel.
144 (b) When the horsepower of the motor exceeds the capacity
145 of the vessel.
146 (c) When the vessel does not contain the required safety
147 equipment required under s. 327.50.
148 (d) When the vessel is not seaworthy, is a derelict vessel
149 as defined in s. 823.11, or is at risk of becoming derelict as
150 provided in s. 327.4107.
151 (e) When the vessel is equipped with a motor of 10
152 horsepower or greater, Unless the livery provides pre-rental
153 prerental or pre-ride preride instruction in compliance with
154 rules established by the commission.
155 1. The instruction must include that includes, but need not
156 be limited to:
157 a.1. Operational characteristics of the vessel to be
158 rented.
159 b.2. Safe vessel operation and vessel right-of-way.
160 c.3. The responsibility of the vessel operator for the safe
161 and proper operation of the vessel.
162 d.4. Local characteristics of the waterway where the vessel
163 will be operated, such as navigational hazards, the presence of
164 boating-restricted areas, and water depths.
165 e. Emergency procedures, such as appropriate responses to
166 capsizing, falls overboard, taking on water, and vessel
167 accidents.
168 2. Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling of
169 livery vessels pursuant to this paragraph must provide the
170 livery with a written statement attesting to each component of
171 the instruction.
172 a. The commission shall establish by rule the content of
173 the statement form.
174 b. The statement form must be signed by the individual
175 providing the instruction.
176 c. The livery shall maintain the statement form for no less
177 than 90 days and, upon request, make the form available for
178 inspection by law enforcement.
179
180 Any person delivering the information specified in this
181 paragraph must have successfully completed a boater safety
182 course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
183 Administrators and this state.
184 (f) Unless the livery displays boating safety information
185 in a place visible to the renting public. The commission shall
186 prescribe by rule, pursuant to chapter 120, the contents and
187 size of the boating safety information to be displayed.
188 (g) Unless the livery has a written agreement with the
189 renter or lessee. The written agreement must include the name,
190 address, and date of birth for the renter and the number of
191 people aboard the vessel, as well as the time the vessel is
192 required to be returned to the livery or another specified
193 location and an emergency contact name, address, and telephone
194 number. The livery shall maintain each agreement for no less
195 than 1 year and, upon request, make each agreement available for
196 inspection by law enforcement.
197 (4)(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 (5)(3) If a vessel rented or leased by a livery is
203 unnecessarily overdue more than 12 hours after the contracted
204 vessel rental time has expired, the livery must shall notify law
205 enforcement the proper authorities.
206 (6)(4)(a) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
207 livery vessel personal watercraft to any person who is under 18
208 years of age.
209 (b) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
210 personal watercraft to any person who has not received
211 instruction in the safe handling of personal watercraft, in
212 compliance with rules established by the commission pursuant to
213 chapter 120.
214 (c) Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling
215 of personal watercraft pursuant to a program established by rule
216 of the commission must provide the livery with a written
217 statement attesting to the same.
218 (7)(5) A livery may not lease, hire, or rent any personal
219 watercraft or offer to lease, hire, or rent any personal
220 watercraft unless the livery first obtains and carries in full
221 force and effect a policy from a licensed insurance carrier in
222 this state, insuring against any accident, loss, injury,
223 property damage, or other casualty caused by or resulting from
224 the operation of the personal watercraft. The insurance policy
225 must shall provide coverage of at least $500,000 per person and
226 $1 million per event. Other liveries must have sufficient
227 insurance to cover the livery vessels. The livery shall must
228 have proof of such insurance available for inspection at the
229 location where livery vessels personal watercraft are being
230 leased, hired, or rented, or offered for lease, hire, or rent,
231 and shall provide to each renter the insurance carrier’s name
232 and address and the insurance policy number. Liveries shall
233 offer insurance to the renter.
234 (8) Notwithstanding the person’s age or any exemptions
235 provided in s. 327.395, any person delivering instruction
236 regarding the safe operation of vessels or pre-rental or pre
237 ride instruction in accordance with subsection (3) must have
238 successfully completed a boating safety education course
239 approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
240 Administrators and this state.
241 (9) If a vessel rented or leased by a livery is involved in
242 an accident, the livery must report the accident to the
243 division.
244 (10) A livery shall make its facilities and records
245 available for inspection upon request by law enforcement no
246 later than 24 hours after receiving notice from law enforcement.
247 (11)(a)(6) Any person convicted of violating this section,
248 other than subsection (2), who has not been convicted of a
249 violation of this section within the past 3 years commits a
250 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
251 775.082 or s. 775.083.
252 (b) Unless the stricter penalties in paragraph (c) apply, a
253 person who violates this section, other than subsection (2),
254 within 3 years after a previous conviction of a violation of
255 this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
256 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a
257 minimum mandatory fine of $500.
258 (c) A person who violates this section, other than
259 subsection (2), within 5 years after two previous convictions
260 for a violation of this section commits a misdemeanor of the
261 first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
262 775.083, with a minimum mandatory fine of $1,000.
263 (12) A person who commits more than one violation of this
264 section, other than subsection (2), within a 3-year period may
265 not act as a livery during a 90-day period immediately after
266 being charged with that violation. Beginning January 1, 2023,
267 the commission may revoke or refuse to issue a permit under
268 subsection (2) based on repeated violations of this section.
269 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (8) of section 327.73,
270 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
271 327.73 Noncriminal infractions.—
272 (1) Violations of the following provisions of the vessel
273 laws of this state are noncriminal infractions:
274 (a) Section 328.46, relating to operation of unregistered
275 and unnumbered vessels.
276 (b) Section 328.48(4), relating to display of number and
277 possession of registration certificate.
278 (c) Section 328.48(5), relating to display of decal.
279 (d) Section 328.52(2), relating to display of number.
280 (e) Section 328.54, relating to spacing of digits and
281 letters of identification number.
282 (f) Section 328.60, relating to military personnel and
283 registration of vessels.
284 (g) Section 328.72(13), relating to operation with an
285 expired registration, for which the penalty is:
286 1. For a first or subsequent offense of s. 328.72(13)(a),
287 up to a maximum of $100 $50.
288 2. For a first offense of s. 328.72(13)(b), up to a maximum
289 of $250.
290 3. For a second or subsequent offense of s. 328.72(13)(b),
291 up to a maximum of $500. Any person cited for a noncriminal
292 infraction under this subparagraph may not have the provisions
293 of paragraph (4)(a) available to him or her but must appear
294 before the designated official at the time and location of the
295 scheduled hearing.
296 (h) Section 327.33(2), relating to careless operation.
297 (i) Section 327.37, relating to water skiing, aquaplaning,
298 parasailing, and similar activities.
299 (j) Section 327.44, relating to interference with
300 navigation.
301 (k) Violations relating to boating-restricted areas and
302 speed limits:
303 1. Established by the commission or by local governmental
304 authorities pursuant to s. 327.46.
305 2. Speed limits established pursuant to s. 379.2431(2).
306 (l) Section 327.48, relating to regattas and races.
307 (m) Section 327.50(1) and (2), relating to required safety
308 equipment, lights, and shapes.
309 (n) Section 327.65, relating to muffling devices.
310 (o) Section 327.33(3)(b), relating to a violation of
311 navigation rules:
312 1. That does not result in an accident; or
313 2. That results in an accident not causing serious bodily
314 injury or death, for which the penalty is:
315 a. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $500 $250.
316 b. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $1,000 $750.
317 c. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
318 $1,500 $1,000.
319 (p) Section 327.39(1), (2), (3), and (5), relating to
320 personal watercraft.
321 (q) Section 327.53(1), (2), (3), and (8), relating to
322 marine sanitation.
323 (r) Section 327.53(4), (5), and (7), relating to marine
324 sanitation, and s. 327.60, relating to no-discharge zones, for
325 which the civil penalty is $250.
326 (s) Section 327.395, relating to boater safety education.
327 However, a person cited for violating the requirements of s.
328 327.395 relating to failure to have required proof of boating
329 safety education in his or her possession may not be convicted
330 if, before or at the time of a county court hearing, the person
331 produces proof of the boating safety education identification
332 card or temporary certificate for verification by the hearing
333 officer or the court clerk and the identification card or
334 temporary certificate was valid at the time the person was
335 cited.
336 (t) Section 327.52(3), relating to operation of overloaded
337 or overpowered vessels.
338 (u) Section 327.331, relating to divers-down warning
339 devices, except for violations meeting the requirements of
340 s. 327.33.
341 (v) Section 327.391(1), relating to the requirement for an
342 adequate muffler on an airboat.
343 (w) Section 327.391(3), relating to the display of a flag
344 on an airboat.
345 (x) Section 253.04(3)(a), relating to carelessly causing
346 seagrass scarring, for which the civil penalty upon conviction
347 is:
348 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
349 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
350 prior conviction, $250.
351 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
352 prior conviction, $500.
353 4. For a fourth or subsequent offense occurring within 72
354 months after a prior conviction, $1,000.
355 (y) Section 327.45, relating to protection zones for
356 springs, for which the penalty is:
357 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
358 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
359 prior conviction, $250.
360 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
361 prior conviction, $500.
362 4. For a fourth or subsequent offense occurring within 72
363 months after a prior conviction, $1,000.
364 (z) Section 327.4108, relating to the anchoring of vessels
365 in anchoring limitation areas, for which the penalty is:
366 1. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $100 $50.
367 2. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $250 $100.
368 3. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
369 $500 $250.
370 (aa) Section 327.4107, relating to vessels at risk of
371 becoming derelict on waters of this state, for which the civil
372 penalty is:
373 1. For a first offense, $100.
374 2. For a second offense occurring 30 days or more after a
375 first offense, $250.
376 3. For a third or subsequent offense occurring 30 days or
377 more after a previous offense, $500.
378
379 A vessel that is the subject of three or more violations issued
380 pursuant to the same paragraph of s. 327.4107(2) within an 18
381 month period which result in dispositions other than acquittal
382 or dismissal shall be declared to be a public nuisance and
383 subject to ss. 705.103(2) and (4) and 823.11(3). The commission,
384 an officer of the commission, or a law enforcement agency or
385 officer specified in s. 327.70 may relocate, remove, or cause to
386 be relocated or removed such public nuisance vessels from waters
387 of this state. The commission, an officer of the commission, or
388 a law enforcement agency or officer acting pursuant to this
389 paragraph upon waters of this state shall be held harmless for
390 all damages to the vessel resulting from such relocation or
391 removal unless the damage results from gross negligence or
392 willful misconduct as these terms are defined in s. 823.11.
393 (bb) Section 327.4109, relating to anchoring or mooring in
394 a prohibited area, for which the penalty is:
395 1. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $100 $50.
396 2. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $250 $100.
397 3. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
398 $500 $250.
399 (cc) Section 327.463(4)(a) and (b), relating to vessels
400 creating special hazards, for which the penalty is:
401 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
402 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
403 prior offense, $250 $100.
404 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
405 prior offense, $500 $250.
406 (dd) Section 327.371, relating to the regulation of human
407 powered vessels.
408 (ee) Section 328.03, relating to an improper transfer of
409 title, for which the penalty is up to a maximum of $500.
410 (ff) Section 328.48(9), relating to the failure to update
411 vessel registration information, for which the penalty is up to
412 a maximum of $500.
413
414 Any person cited for a violation of any provision of this
415 subsection shall be deemed to be charged with a noncriminal
416 infraction, shall be cited for such an infraction, and shall be
417 cited to appear before the county court. The civil penalty for
418 any such infraction is $100 $50, except as otherwise provided in
419 this section. Any person who fails to appear or otherwise
420 properly respond to a uniform boating citation shall, in
421 addition to the charge relating to the violation of the boating
422 laws of this state, must be charged with the offense of failing
423 to respond to such citation and, upon conviction, be guilty of a
424 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
425 775.082 or s. 775.083. A written warning to this effect shall be
426 provided at the time such uniform boating citation is issued.
427 (8) All fees and civil penalties assessed and collected
428 pursuant to this section shall be remitted by the clerk of the
429 court to the Department of Revenue to be deposited into the
430 Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund for boating safety
431 education or law enforcement purposes.
432 Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 327.731, Florida
433 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to that
434 section, to read:
435 327.731 Mandatory education for violators.—
436 (1) A person convicted of a criminal violation under this
437 chapter, convicted of a noncriminal infraction under this
438 chapter if the infraction resulted in a reportable boating
439 accident, or convicted of two noncriminal infractions as
440 specified in s. 327.73(1)(h)-(k), (m), (o), (p), and (s)-(y),
441 the said infractions occurring within a 12-month period, must:
442 (a) Enroll in, attend, and successfully complete, at his or
443 her own expense, a classroom or online boating safety course
444 that is approved by and meets the minimum standards established
445 by commission rule;
446 (b) File with the commission within 90 days proof of
447 successful completion of the course; and
448 (c) Refrain from operating a vessel until he or she has
449 filed proof of successful completion of the course with the
450 commission; and
451 (d) Pay a fine of $500. The clerk of the court shall remit
452 all fines assessed and collected under this paragraph to the
453 Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine Resources
454 Conservation Trust Fund to support law enforcement activities.
455 (4) The commission shall maintain a program to ensure
456 compliance with the mandatory boating safety education
457 requirements under this section. This program must:
458 (a) Track any citations resulting in a conviction under
459 this section and the disposition of such citations.
460 (b) Send specific notices to each person subject to the
461 requirement for mandatory boating safety education.
462 Section 7. Subsection (3) of section 328.03, Florida
463 Statutes, is amended to read:
464 328.03 Certificate of title required.—
465 (3) A person may shall not sell, assign, or transfer a
466 vessel titled by the state without delivering to the purchaser
467 or transferee a valid certificate of title with an assignment on
468 it showing the transfer of title to the purchaser or transferee.
469 A person may shall not purchase or otherwise acquire a vessel
470 required to be titled by the state without obtaining a
471 certificate of title for the vessel in his or her name. The
472 purchaser or transferee shall, within 30 days after a change in
473 vessel ownership, file an application for a title transfer with
474 the county tax collector. An additional $10 fee must shall be
475 charged against the purchaser or transferee if he or she files a
476 title transfer application after the 30-day period. The county
477 tax collector may shall be entitled to retain $5 of the
478 additional amount. Any person who does not properly transfer
479 title of a vessel pursuant to this chapter is subject to the
480 penalties provided in s. 327.73(1)(ee).
481 Section 8. Effective July 1, 2023, subsection (4) of
482 section 328.03, Florida Statutes, as amended by chapter 2019-76,
483 Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
484 328.03 Certificate of title required.—
485 (4) An additional $10 fee shall be charged against the
486 purchaser or transferee if he or she files a title transfer
487 application after the 30-day period. The county tax collector
488 may shall be entitled to retain $5 of the additional amount. Any
489 person who does not properly transfer title of a vessel pursuant
490 to this chapter is subject to the penalties provided in s.
491 327.73(1)(ee).
492 Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
493 (4) of section 328.48, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
494 subsection (9) is added to that section, to read:
495 328.48 Vessel registration, application, certificate,
496 number, decal, duplicate certificate.—
497 (1)(a) The owner of each vessel required by this law to pay
498 a registration fee and secure an identification number shall
499 file an application with the county tax collector. The
500 application must shall provide the owner’s name and physical
501 residential or business address; residency status; personal or
502 business identification; and a complete description of the
503 vessel, and must shall be accompanied by payment of the
504 applicable fee required in s. 328.72. An individual applicant
505 must provide a valid driver license or identification card
506 issued by this state or another state or a valid passport. A
507 business applicant must provide a federal employer
508 identification number, if applicable, verification that the
509 business is authorized to conduct business in this the state, or
510 a Florida city or county business license or number.
511 Registration is not required for any vessel that is not used on
512 the waters of this state. Upon receipt of an application from a
513 live-aboard vessel owner whose primary residence is the vessel,
514 the commission may authorize such owner to provide a post office
515 box address in lieu of a physical residential or business
516 address.
517 (4) Each certificate of registration issued must shall
518 state among other items the numbers awarded to the vessel, the
519 hull identification number, the name and physical residential or
520 business address of the owner, and a description of the vessel,
521 except that certificates of registration for vessels constructed
522 or assembled by the owner registered for the first time must
523 shall state all the foregoing information except the hull
524 identification number. The numbers must shall be placed on each
525 side of the forward half of the vessel in such position as to
526 provide clear legibility for identification, except, if the
527 vessel is an airboat, the numbers may be placed on each side of
528 the rudder. The numbers awarded to the vessel must shall read
529 from left to right and must shall be in block characters of good
530 proportion not less than 3 inches in height. The numbers must
531 shall be of a solid color that which will contrast with the
532 color of the background and must shall be so maintained as to be
533 clearly visible and legible; i.e., dark numbers on a light
534 background or light numbers on a dark background. The
535 certificate of registration must shall be pocket-sized and must
536 shall be available for inspection on the vessel for which issued
537 whenever such vessel is in operation. Upon receipt of an
538 application from a live-aboard vessel owner whose primary
539 residence is the vessel, the commission may authorize such owner
540 to provide a post office box address in lieu of a physical
541 residential address.
542 (9) A person who does not update his or her vessel
543 registration information with the county tax collector within 6
544 months after a change to the information is subject to the
545 penalties provided in s. 327.73(1)(ff).
546 Section 10. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of $2
547 million in recurring funds is appropriated from the General
548 Revenue Fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
549 and 7 full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate
550 of 322,763 are authorized to create an Illegal Boating Strike
551 Team for the purpose of coordinating law enforcement at the
552 federal, state, and local levels to increase public safety and
553 decrease boating accidents, injuries, fatalities, and criminal
554 activity. In areas where illegal charters and illegal liveries
555 are found to be operating, the strike team shall do all of the
556 following:
557 (1) Enhance law enforcement activities by increasing
558 intergovernmental coordination to address any criminal conduct
559 or safety violations, taxes and fees, and licensure regulations
560 by such charter and livery operations.
561 (2) Address unsafe customer pick-ups and drop-offs.
562 (3) Improve signage and set appropriate speed limits in
563 waterways.
564 (4) Ensure that correct and current information is used for
565 vessel registration.
566 (5) Publicize existing reporting systems and use social
567 media to encourage citizens to report illegal activities.
568 (6) Develop educational campaigns to address and deter
569 illegal charter operations, illegal livery operations, boating
570 under the influence, and related public safety issues and to
571 encourage the reporting of boating violations.
572 Section 11. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of
573 $100,000 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
574 appropriated to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
575 and one full-time equivalent position with associated salary
576 rate of 60,000 is authorized to implement the amendment made to
577 s. 327.731, Florida Statutes, by this act relating to ensuring
578 compliance with mandatory boating safety education requirements.
579 Section 12. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of
580 $125,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
581 appropriated to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
582 for the purpose of implementing the livery permitting
583 requirement in s. 327.54(2), Florida Statutes.
584 Section 13. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
585 act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2022.