AB704: Bill Text

ZDW:cjs&ahe

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 704

January 2, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives August, Loudenbeck, Skowronski, Ballweg and Duchow, cosponsored by Senator Nass. Referred to Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

AB704,1,3 An Act to renumber and amend 30.678 (1) (d); to amend 30.678 (1) (b) and 30.678 (1) (c) 2.; and to create 30.678 (1) (d) 2. of the statutes; relating to: operation of motorboats by minors.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, no person under the age of 10 may operate a motorboat. No person who is 10 or 11 years old may operate a motorboat unless he or she is accompanied by a parent or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by a parent or guardian. No person who is between 12 to 15 years old may operate a motorboat unless he or she holds a valid boating safety certificate issued or honored by the Department of Natural Resources or is accompanied by a parent or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by a parent or guardian.

Under this bill, the parent, guardian, or adult accompanying a minor operating a motorboat must hold a valid boating safety certificate issued or honored by DNR or must have been born before January 1, 1989.

Under current law, no person who was born on or after January 1, 1989, and who is 16 years of age or older may operate a motorboat unless the person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued or honored by DNR.

The bill provides that a person who was born on or after January 1, 1989, and is at least 16 may operate a motorboat only if that person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued or honored by DNR or is accompanied by a person who holds a valid boating safety certificate issued or honored by DNR or was born before January 1, 1989.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB704,1 Section 1. 30.678 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB704,2,8 30.678 (1) (b) No person who is at least 10 years of age but under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat unless he or she is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by a parent or guardian and the parent, guardian, or designated adult holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c) or was born before January 1, 1989.

AB704,2 Section 2. 30.678 (1) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB704,2,14 30.678 (1) (c) 2. The person is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by a parent or guardian and the parent, guardian, or designated adult holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c) or was born before January 1, 1989.

AB704,3 Section 3 . 30.678 (1) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 30.678 (1) (d) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB704,2,19 30.678 (1) (d) (intro.) No person who was born on or after January 1, 1989, and who is 16 years of age or older may operate a motorboat unless the one of the following applies:

AB704,2,21 1. The person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).

AB704,4 Section 4. 30.678 (1) (d) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB704,3,5 30.678 (1) (d) 2. The person is accompanied in the motorboat by another person who is at least 18 years of age and that person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c) or was born before January 1, 1989.

AB704,3,6 (End)