Brief⁽¹⁾

H.B. 2106 would require all persons born after January 1, 1988 to successfully complete a boating safety course approved by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) in order to operate a motorboat or sailboat on Kansas public waters. The bill authorizes KDWP to establish such courses, which must be a minimum of eight hours and be recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard. The bill would also allow persons to complete the course by approved correspondence course materials and examination. The bill would also allow KDWP to recognize courses completed in other states and provide an exemption to nonresidents in the state for less than 30 days and a 60-day grace period for new residents.

The amended bill provides exemptions for persons under the direct supervision of a person over 17 years of age who has completed an approved boating safety course and for motorboats rated at less than 50 horsepower; and allows a person taking a correspondence course to be supervised by the person's parents or guardians.

Background

The bill was requested by KDWP. Currently, a boating safety course is required for persons age 12 to 15 for solo operation of a personal watercraft. Testimony by KDWP stated that the bill is a step to address the trend of escalating boating-related accidents, fatalities, and property damage. Kansas has more than 60 boating-related accidents each year and an average of eight fatalities.

The House Committee on Tourism added the three amendments noted above.

The fiscal note prepared by the Division of the Budget states that the bill has no fiscal impact since KDWP is authorized to charge a fee for the boating safety courses.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html.