STEVENS T. MASON BUILDING ● P.O. BOX 30028 ● LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7528

www.michigan.gov ● (517) 373-2329

	State of Michigan
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor	DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Lansing	K. L. COOL director

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER: HB 5687 AS INTRODUCED

TOPIC: Watercraft, minimum age to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft

SPONSOR: Representative David Farhat

CO-SPONSORS: Representatives Palsrok, Brandenburg, Hoogendyk, Pappageorge, DeRossett, Garfield, Richardville

COMMITTEE: Great Lakes and Tourism

Analysis Done: April 15, 2004

POSITION

The Department opposes this bill.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

For many years youngsters 12 to 15 years of age have been required to pass a boating safety course to operate a motorboat with a motor larger than 6 horsepower, except that they could operate a 6 to 35 horsepower boat while a 16-year old or older person was on board. Youth less than 12 years can operate a motorboat less than 6 horsepower without restriction and a 6 to 35 horsepower boat while a 16-year old or older person was on board. Personal watercraft (PWC) can be operated by a 12 to 14-year old accompanied solely by their parent or legal guardian, and each must have boating safety education. Anyone born after 1978, in order to operate a PWC, must have boating safety education (currently 25-year olds and younger).

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

Increases the minimum age to operate a motorboat or PWC to 16 years except for a motorboat with a motor less than 6 horsepower.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

Increasing the minimum age to operate a motorboat or PWC might reduce accidents, but this age group results in few accident statistics.

Con

Current boating safety education is geared towards 12-year olds. A curriculum change would be needed for the proposed legislation. Michigan leads the nation with just under 1 million registered boats. Changing the age to 16 would severely restrict thousands of youngsters who operate motorboats whose accidents rates are very low. These youth are the future of boating in this state, and restricting them from operating a motorboat until they are 16 years would reduce recruitment into the sport.

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

(a) Department

Budgetary:

The Department would have to develop a curriculum aimed at 16-year olds at an unknown cost.

Revenue:

Motorboat registrations and income from motorboat fuel taxes would likely be reduced.

Comments:

None.

(b) State

Budgetary:

Unknown.

Revenue:

Motorboat registrations and income from motorboat fuel taxes would likely be reduced.

Comments:

None.

(c) Local Government

Comments:

None.

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

None known.

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

The Michigan Boating Industries Association opposes this bill.

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

None.

_______________________________

Rebecca A. Humphries

Director

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Date

LED