HB 548 – AS INTRODUCED
2011 SESSION
03/09
HOUSE BILL 548
AN ACT relative to boater safety education and relative to the minimum age for operation of motorized vessels.
SPONSORS: Rep. C. Christensen, Hills 19; Rep. Hikel, Hills 7; Rep. Russell, Belk 6
This bill:
I. Expands the safe boater education certificate requirement to the operation of all motorized vessels.
II. Allows persons 12 years of age and older to obtain safe boater education certificates.
III. Modifies the minimum age for operation restrictions for motorized vessels.
This bill was requested by the department of safety.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11-0055
03/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven
AN ACT relative to boater safety education and relative to the minimum age for operation of motorized vessels.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Minimum Age for Operation. Amend RSA 270:30, I to read as follows:
I. Except as provided in this paragraph, no person under 16 years of age shall operate a motorized vessel [having power in excess of 25 horsepower] on the public waters of this state unless the person is accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older who has a valid safe boater education certificate, and such person shall be liable for personal injury or property damage which may result from such operation. Any person 12 to 15 years of age with a safe boater education certificate may operate a vessel having power of 25 horsepower or less without an adult.
2 Safe Boater Education; Certificate Required. RSA 270-D:10, I is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
I. No person shall operate a motorized vessel on the public waters of this state without first obtaining a safe boater education certificate.
3 Possession Required. Amend RSA 270-D:11, I(a) to read as follows:
(a) Possess the certificate when operating a motorized vessel [with any type of power motor in excess of 25 horsepower] on the public waters of the state.
4 Safe Boater Education Certificate. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 270-D:13, I to read as follows:
I. The commissioner or designee shall issue a safe boater education certificate to a person [16] 12 years of age or older who:
5 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 270-D:13, IV, relative to attendance by 15-year-olds.
II. RSA 270-D:19, relative to voluntary attendance.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2012.