[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 672 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 672

                To improve recreational boating safety.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 25, 1995

 Mr. Fields of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred 
         to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
                To improve recreational boating safety.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Recreational Boating Safety Act of 
1995''.

SEC. 2. INCREASED ENFORCEMENT OF BOATING WHILE INTOXICATED LAWS.

    Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation with appropriate State 
and local law enforcement officials, shall establish a program to 
reduce the number of boating accident fatalities by increasing or 
concentrating enforcement of boating while intoxicated laws in areas 
where--
            (1) many boating accidents have occurred; or
            (2) previous boating accidents involving the use of alcohol 
        have occurred.

SEC. 3. MANDATORY USE OF PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES FOR CHILDREN.

    Section 4302 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end a new subsection to read as follows:
    ``(e) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring an 
individual on a recreational vessel or a personal watercraft who is 12 
years of age or younger to wear a personal flotation device, except in 
an enclosed cabin on a vessel.''.

SEC. 4. PLAN TO APPROVE FULLY INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS.

    Not later than six months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
plan to approve fully inflatable life jackets for use as personal 
flotation devices under appropriate conditions.

SEC. 5. PLAN TO IMPROVE VESSEL CASUALTY REPORTING.

    Not later than one year after enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan to increase 
reporting of vessel accidents to appropriate State law enforcement 
officials.

SEC. 6. INCREASED BOATING CASUALTY INFORMATION.

    (a) Not later than six months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall revise the regulations 
issued under section 6102 of title 46, United States Code, to provide 
for a three-level State marine casualty reporting system. The reporting 
system shall require reporting of comprehensive information for each 
serious recreational vessel accident, including information on alcohol 
use, personal flotation device use, and operator education.
    (b) Section 6103(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``or 6102'' after ``6101'' each place it appears.

SEC. 7. MANDATORY BOATER EDUCATION FOR SERIOUS VIOLATIONS.

    (a) Section 2302 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end a new subsection to read as follows:
    ``(e) An individual operating a recreational vessel in violation of 
this section shall complete a boating safety course under terms 
acceptable to the Secretary.''.
    (b) Section 4308 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by designating the existing text as subsection (a); and
            (2) by adding at the end a new subsection to read as 
        follows:
    ``(b) An individual operating a recreational vessel in violation of 
this section shall complete a boating safety course under terms 
acceptable to the Secretary.''.

SEC. 8. SAFE BOATING EDUCATION PLAN.

    Not later than six months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
plan to provide mandatory safe boating education and certification to 
individuals 12 years of age and younger who operate recreational 
vessels.
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