DNR Letterhead

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER: HOUSE BILL 4830, AS INTRODUCED

TOPIC: Personal watercraft; authorize operation until sunset

SPONSOR: David Agema

CO-SPONSORS: Glenn Steil, Richard LeBlanc, Kevin Green, David Robertson, Bert Johnson, Coleman Young, Doug Bennett, John Espinoza, Kathleen Law, Mark Meadows, Richard Hammel, Ted Hammon, Tory Rocca, Jacob Hoogendyk, Judy Emmons, Philip LaJoy, Fulton Sheen, John Stahl, Daniel Acciavatti, Rick Jones, John Garfield, Brian Palmer, Brian Calley, David Law, Neal Nitz, Robert Dean, John Stakoe, Tom Casperson, Bill Huizenga, Jack Brandenburg, John Pastor, Arlan Meekhof, Goeff Hansen, Mike Nofs, John Moolenaar, Marty Knollenberg, Joe Hune, Chris Ward, Tom Pearce, Lorence Wenke, Virgil Smith, Richard Ball, Lee Gonzales, Terry Brown, and Gino Polidori

COMMITTEE: Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Analysis Done: June 8, 2007

POSITION

The Department supports the bill.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

A person shall not operate a personal watercraft during the period that begins 1 hour before sunset and ends at 8 a.m. Current boating laws, however, allow vessels to operate until sunset without navigation lights.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

HB 4830 would extend the daytime period that personal watercraft may be operated until sunset.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

HB 4830 provides more clarity and consistency for hours of operation of various types of watercraft.

Con

None

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

Are there revenue or budgetary implications in the bill to the --

(a) Department

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

None

Comments:

None

(b) State

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

None

Comments:

None

(c) Local Government

Comments:

None

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

None

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

County Sheriffs also conduct marine enforcement.

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

None

_______________________________

Rebecca A. Humphries

Director

_______________________________

Date

LED