General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 71
February Session, 2014		LCO No. 138
		*00138_______ENV*
Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT
Introduced by:
(ENV)

AN ACT CONCERNING ON-LINE EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR BOATING AND HUNTING SAFETY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 15-140e of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) A safe boating certificate shall be issued under subsection (a) of this section to any applicant regardless of age who provides proof that such applicant has: (1) Successfully completed a classroom or on-line course in safe boating operation approved by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, which courses may include those offered by the United States Power Squadrons, Coast Guard Auxiliary or other organizations, or (2) successfully passed an equivalency examination testing knowledge of safe boating operation administered by the commissioner.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 15-140f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall formulate classroom and on-line courses in safe boating operation.

Sec. 3. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 15-140j of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(c) A certificate of personal watercraft operation shall be issued under subsection (b) of this section to any applicant who provides proof that such applicant has: (1) Successfully completed a combined course in safe boating operation and safe personal watercraft handling approved by the commissioner, which courses include, but are not limited to, classroom or on-line courses offered by the United States Power Squadrons, Coast Guard Auxiliary or other similar organization, (2) been issued or has satisfied the requirements for issuance of a safe boating certificate and successfully completed a course in safe personal watercraft handling approved by the commissioner, which include, but are not limited to, classroom or on-line courses offered by the United States Power Squadrons, Coast Guard Auxiliary or other similar organization, or (3) successfully passed an equivalency examination testing knowledge of safe boating operation and safe personal watercraft handling administered by the commissioner.

(d) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing the content of classroom and on-line courses in safe personal watercraft handling. Such regulations may include provisions for examinations, issuance of certificates of personal watercraft operation and establishment of a reasonable fee for such course and examination and for the issuance of a certificate and duplicate certificate.

Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 26-31 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall formulate conservation courses of instruction in safe trapping, hunting and archery practices and the handling and use of traps and hunting implements, including bow and arrow, for such persons as are applying for a license to hunt with firearms or to hunt with bow and arrow or trap for the first time and for minors who fall within the provisions of section 26-38, and shall designate one or more competent persons or organizations to give such instruction. Any person or organization so designated shall give such instruction on-line or in a classroom to any person requesting the same and shall, upon the successful completion thereof, recommend to the commissioner issuance of a certificate of completion to such person. Successful completion of such instruction for hunting license applicants shall include, but not be limited to, achieving a passing grade on an examination formulated by the commissioner, which shall include correctly stating in writing, or reciting orally, the regulations for hunting in proximity to buildings occupied by persons or domestic animals or used for storage of flammable or combustible materials and the regulations for shooting towards persons, buildings or animals. [Any such person or organization may charge any person taking the course of instruction in trapping a reasonable fee, established by regulation adopted by the commissioner in accordance with chapter 54, to cover the cost of supplies, materials and equipment necessary for such course of instruction. No fee shall be charged for a course of instruction in hunting or archery.]

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	from passage	15-140e(b)
Sec. 2	from passage	15-140f(a)
Sec. 3	from passage	15-140j(c) and (d)
Sec. 4	from passage	26-31(a)

Statement of Purpose:

To authorize certain on-line boating and hunting safety courses.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]