General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 868
January Session, 2015		LCO No. 3106
		*03106_______ENV*
Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT
Introduced by:
(ENV)

AN ACT REGULATING THE USE OF JETTED ARTICULATED VESSELS AND CERTAIN WATER SKIING DEVICES.

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

Section 1. Section 15-127 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

As used in this part unless the context otherwise requires: "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection; "federal waters" means the navigable waters of the United States within the territorial limits of the state; "state waters" means all waters within the territorial limits of the state except federal waters; "vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water; "motorboat" means any vessel, not more than sixty-five feet in length and propelled by machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion; "sailboat" means any vessel propelled by sail alone; "sailboard" means any sailboat whose unsupported mast is connected by a swivel or a flexible universal joint to a hull similar to the hull of a surfboard; ["water-skiing"] "water skiing" includes [aquaplaning,] towing of any person behind a vessel under power, whether such person is tethered or not, and similar forms of activity in which a passenger exits a vessel and uses the suction or wake of the underway vessel to engage in the activity; "operate" means to navigate or otherwise use a vessel; a vessel is "under way" when it is not moored, anchored, made fast to the shore or aground; "person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association, limited liability company, corporation or other entity; "town" includes city, town, borough and any other political subdivision of the state; "masthead light" means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel aft of and higher than the side lights and forward of the stern light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel; "side light" means a green light on the starboard side or a red light on the port side, placed forward of the stern light and as near as practicable to the bow of the vessel, each showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side, except that on a vessel of less than twenty meters in length the side lights may be combined in one lantern carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel; "stern light" means a white light placed as near as practicable to the stern showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 135 degrees and so fixed as to show the light 67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel; "all-around light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon 360 degrees; "anchor light" means an all-around white light exhibited forward and displayed where it can best be seen; [and] "international regulations" means the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, including annexes currently in force for the United States; and "Jetted Articulated Vessel" or "JAV" means any vessel that consists of a base pumping unit used to generate water or other media under pressure, an articulated hose used to convey media under pressure and a device, including, but not limited to, a platform, backpack or boots through which high-pressure media is ejected, elevating or submerging an operator or passenger.

Sec. 2. Section 15-134 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) No person shall operate a motorboat towing a water skier unless there is present in such motorboat, in addition to the operator, a responsible person at least twelve years of age assisting the operator and observing the progress of such water skier.

(b) No person shall engage in water skiing and no person shall operate a motorboat towing a person so engaged on any water area on which water skiing is prohibited.

(c) No person shall operate a vessel when the number of persons on board such vessel that is towing one or more water skiers, added together with the number of water skiers, exceeds the persons carrying capacity of such vessel, as indicated by the capacity label affixed to such vessel by the manufacturer.

[(c)] (d) No person shall engage in water skiing from one-half hour after sunset until sunrise or when weather conditions restrict normal visibility to less than one hundred yards.

[(d)] (e) No person shall engage in water skiing in such manner as to strike or threaten to strike any person or vessel and no person shall operate a motorboat or manipulate a tow line or other towing device in such manner as to cause a water skier to strike or threaten to strike another person or vessel.

(f) No person shall operate a vessel engaged in water skiing such that the wake associated with such vessel creates an injury to any person or damage to any vessel or structure.

[(e)] (g) The commissioner may modify or suspend the provisions of this section in respect to any person performing or competing in a bona fide race, regatta, water carnival or similar public event.

[(f)] (h) (1) No individual, municipality, association or corporation shall place or cause to be placed on the waters of this state any marked course or jump ramp for use by any water skier or vessel without written authorization of the commissioner except on lakes or ponds owned by, and whose access is entirely under the control of, private landowners or lessees who all agree to the establishment of such course or ramp. On and after October 1, 1993, no new authorization shall be granted on any body of water with a surface area less than one hundred acres. Application for authorization shall be made on forms provided by the commissioner and shall be accompanied by: (A) A detailed map showing the proposed location of such marked course or jump ramp, (B) a detailed diagram of the proposed course markers or jump ramp, and (C) a detailed statement addressing the safety and environmental impact of such proposal.

(2) The commissioner shall hold an informational meeting in the town or one of the towns in which authorization is sought, giving all towns involved and all interested persons an opportunity to present their views regarding the proposed marked course or jump ramp. Any such informational meeting shall not be deemed to be a hearing under the provisions of chapter 54. Prior to issuing or denying such authorization the commissioner shall consider: (A) The completeness, accuracy and detail of the application, (B) public safety, (C) any environmental impacts directly related to the proposed marked course or jump ramp, and (D) the possible conflicts with other water uses.

(3) Any authorization issued by the commissioner pursuant to this subsection may contain such conditions as the commissioner deems necessary to safeguard public safety, welfare or the environment.

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

(a) As used in this section, "personal watercraft" is any inboard powered vessel less than sixteen feet in length [which] that has an internal combustion engine powering a water-jet pump as its primary source of motor propulsion and [which] that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel and "Jetted Articulated Vessel" or "JAV" has the same meaning as provided in section 15-127, as amended by this act.

(b) No person shall operate a personal watercraft, a JAV or be a passenger on a JAV unless such person has been issued a certificate of personal watercraft operation by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. No person less than sixteen years of age shall operate or be a passenger on a JAV. No owner of a personal watercraft or a JAV shall knowingly authorize or permit a person who is less than sixteen years of age who does not have a certificate of personal watercraft operation issued by the commissioner to operate such personal watercraft, JAV or be a passenger on such JAV on the waters of the state. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commissioner may modify or suspend requirements for a certificate of personal watercraft operation by written authorization with respect to any marine event authorized by the commissioner or upon receipt of a copy of the United States Coast Guard authorization for a marine event.

(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, 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, 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 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.

(e) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, any person who purchases a new or used personal watercraft may, upon vessel registration, apply to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for a temporary certificate of personal watercraft operation [which] that shall be valid for three months from the date of registration, provided the applicant has successfully completed a course in safe personal watercraft handling prior to application for the temporary certificate. No person shall be issued more than one temporary certificate of personal watercraft operation.

(f) The commissioner may enter into a reciprocal agreement with any other state [which] that has a similar safe personal watercraft handling certificate program [which] that the commissioner deems acceptable for purposes of this subsection. Any person who successfully completes a course in safe personal watercraft handling and holds a certificate or license from another state [which] that has such a reciprocal agreement with the commissioner may operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this state.

(g) Any person required to obtain a certificate of personal watercraft operation pursuant to this section shall have such certificate on board at all times while operating a personal watercraft. On demand of an officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter, such person shall exhibit the certificate to the officer.

(h) No passenger shall be permitted to ride in front of the operator on a personal watercraft. No passenger shall be permitted to ride upon a personal watercraft unless the passenger is able to securely hold onto the person in front of them or to the handholds on the personal watercraft, and is able to keep both feet on the deck of the personal watercraft so as to maintain balance while the personal watercraft is in operation.

(i) Unless otherwise authorized by the commissioner pursuant to section 15-140b, no person shall operate a JAV in any slow-no-wake area except to transit such slow-no-wake area. No person shall operate a JAV within two hundred feet of any dock, shore, pier or fixed structure or within one hundred feet of any vessel except to directly transit the area of such dock, shore, pier, fixed structure or vessel.

[(i)] (j) No person shall teach a course in safe personal watercraft handling that satisfies the requirements for issuance of a certificate of personal watercraft operation unless the commissioner has approved such course.

[(j)] (k) No Department of Energy and Environmental Protection agent or employee shall use department safe personal watercraft handling course materials for personal financial gain.

[(k)] (l) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than sixty dollars or more than two hundred fifty dollars for each such violation.

[(l)] (m) A certificate of personal watercraft operation may be suspended or revoked in accordance with the provisions of section 15-132a, 15-133, 15-140l or 15-140n.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	from passage	15-127
Sec. 2	from passage	15-134
Sec. 3	from passage	15-140j

Statement of Purpose:

To regulate wake surfing and the use of jetted articulated vessels.

[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.]