ASSEMBLY, No. 1586

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22, 1996

By Assemblyman BAGGER

An Act concerning the operation of vessels on the waters of this State and supplementing P.L.1962, c.73 (C.12:7-34.36 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a child 12 years of age or under on board a vessel operating on the waters of this State shall at all times wear a United States Coast Guard approved personal flotation device whenever the vessel is underway.

    2. The department shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt any rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires a child of age 12 or younger to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device whenever the child is on board a vessel operated on the waters of this State and the vessel is underway.

    There are currently 26 states that require children of various ages to wear a life jacket while on board a vessel. Ten of these states require children age 12 and under to wear life jackets. The other 16 states make the wearing of life jackets mandatory for various ages between 5 and 11.

Requires children age 12 and under to wear life jackets while on board vessels.