[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1586

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22, 1996

By Assemblyman BAGGER and Assemblywoman ALLEN

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. ¹[Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary,] a. Every person who operates a vessel on the waters of this State with¹ a child ²[12] 10 ² years of age or under on board ¹[a vessel operating on the waters of this State shall at all times] shall have the child¹ wear ¹at all times¹ a ¹properly fitted¹ United States Coast Guard approved personal flotation device whenever the vessel is underway.

    ¹b. Any person guilty of violating this act shall be fined not less than $25 or more than $50.¹

    2. The ¹[department] Boat Regulation Commission¹ 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. ²The commission may exempt any class of vessel from the requirements of this act if it deems that the size or purpose of the vessels in a specific class make the requirements unnecessary or inappropriate. A class of vessel exempt from the requirements of this act may include, but need not be limited to, the class of vessels in which the "Spirit of New Jersey," and any other similarly large commercial tour or ferry boat are listed.²

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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