STATEMENT TO

[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1312

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed By Assemblyman WOLFE)

ADOPTED: JUNE 26, 1997

      These Assembly amendments provide limited exemptions from the current statutory requirement that persons born after December 31, 1978 must successfully complete a boat safety course prior to operating a power vessel on the waters of the State. These amendments would allow persons 18 years of age or older to operate a power vessel that is not a personal watercraft (e.g., jet ski, waverunner) on the waters of the State without completing the boat safety course if:

      1) the person possesses a valid driver's license and operates a power vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or less;

      2) the person is not a New Jersey resident, is in this State for less than 90 days and possesses a power vessel registered in another state or country; or

      3) the person rents a power vessel powered by a motor of more than 10 horsepower from a boat rental business and the person has successfully completed a State-approved pre-rental instruction course administered by the owner of the boat rental business prior to operating the vessel, provided that the owner of the business is an experienced boater and has successfully completed the State boat safety course.