CS/CS/HB 701 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0701-02-c2
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to boating and vessel safety; 2
providing a short title; amending s. 327.395, F.S.; 3
requiring certain boating safety education courses and 4
temporary certificate examinations to include 5
specified components; directing the Fish and Wildlife 6
Conservation Commission to include such components in 7
boating safety education campaigns and certain 8
educational materials; amending s. 327.50, F.S.; 9
requiring operators of vessels used in the instruction 10
of water sports and activities to use engine cutoff 11
switches and wear operative links to the switches 12
under certain conditions; providing an effective date. 13
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
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Section 1. This act may be cited as "Ethan's Law. " 17
Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 327.395, Florida 18
Statutes, is amended to read: 19
327.395 Boating safety education. — 20
(4) A commission-approved boating safety education course 21
or temporary certificate examination developed or approved by 22
the commission must include components a component regarding: 23
(a) Diving vessels, awareness of divers in the water, 24
divers-down warning devices, and the requirements of s. 327.331. 25
CS/CS/HB 701 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0701-02-c2
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(b) The danger associated with: 26
1. A passenger riding on a seat back, gunwale, transom, 27
bow, motor cover, or any other vessel area not designed and 28
designated by the manufacturer for seating. 29
2. A passenger falling overboard. 30
3. Operating a vessel with a person in the water near the 31
vessel. 32
4. Starting a vessel with the engine in gear. 33
5. Leaving the vessel running when a passenger is boarding 34
or disembarking. 35
(c) The proper use and lifesaving benefits of an engine 36
cutoff switch for motorboats and personal watercraft. 37
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The commission must include the components under this subsection 39
in boating safety education campaigns and in educational 40
materials produced by the commission, as appropriate. 41
Section 3. Subsection (4) is added to section 327.50, 42
Florida Statutes, to read: 43
327.50 Vessel safety regulations; equipment and lighting 44
requirements.— 45
(4) The operator of a vessel used in the instruction of a 46
water sport or activity must use an engine cutoff switch and 47
wear an operative link to the switch when a person participating 48
in the water sport or activity is in the water. 49
Section 4. This act shall take effect October 1, 2022. 50