25 LC 44 3123S
The House Committee on Game, Fish and Parks offers the following substitute to HB 556:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 52-7-8.3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1
operation of watercraft, identification, and operation by minors, so as to provide for boat2
rentals and education courses; to provide for a penalty; to provide for a definition; to provide3
for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
SECTION 1.6
Code Section 52-7-8.3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to operation of7
watercraft, identification, and operation by minors, is amended by revising subsection (g) as8
follows:9
"(g)(1) As used in this subsection, the term 'course' means a rental education course as10
provided for in paragraph (3) of this subsection. No person shall rent, lease, or let for hire11
any vessel ten horsepower or more to any person under 16 years of age. On and after12
July 1, 2014, a person 16 years of age or older may rent or lease any vessel ten13
horsepower or more if such person has completed a boating education course approved14
by the department. This subsection shall not apply to any person licensed by the United15
States Coast Guard as a master of a vessel or a nonresident who has in his or her16
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possession proof that he or she has completed a National Association of State Boating17
Law Administrators approved boater education course or equivalency examination from18
another state.19
(2) No person shall rent, lease, or let for hire any vessel ten horsepower or more to any20
person under 18 years of age. No person shall operate a vessel that has been rented,21
leased, or let for hire unless such person is 18 years of age or older and has completed a22
rental education course approved by the department. A person 18 years of age or older23
may rent, lease, or let for hire a vessel ten horsepower or more if such person has24
completed a rental education course approved by the department. No person may rent,25
lease, or let for hire a vessel ten horsepower or more to a person 18 years of age or older26
unless such person has completed a rental education course approved by the department27
and, if one or more additional persons 18 years or age or older will be present on such28
vessel, at least one additional person has completed such course.29
(3) Rental education courses provided pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection must30
be approved by the department and must result in the issuance of a rental education31
certificate upon successful completion of the course. Rental education certificates shall32
be effective for six months after the date of issuance and shall be valid anywhere in this33
state. Boat liveries shall use course materials approved by the department. At a34
minimum, a course must consist of a ten-minute operation familiarization video followed35
by a renter orientation checklist. Such video must address the following topics in order36
to be approved:37
(A) Operator responsibility, ethics, courtesy, and good judgment on the water;38
(B) Safety equipment;39
(C) Navigation rules;40
(D) Aids to navigation, and buoys and other waterway markers; and41
(E) Proper identification.42
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(4) The requirement to complete a course does not apply to any person licensed by the43
United States Coast Guard as a master of a vessel, any person who has in his or her44
possession a valid boater education identification card showing that he or she has45
completed a boating education course approved by the department, or a person who has46
in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a National Association of State47
Boating Law Administrators approved boater education course or equivalency48
examination from another state.49
(5) Any person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."50
SECTION 2.51
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.52
H. B. 556 (SUB)
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