HLS 17RS-574 REENGROSSED
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 9
BY REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP AND SENATOR CORTEZ
BOATS/SHIPS/VESSELS: Requests the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to examine
the issues involved in a program to issue a safe boater decal
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to examine the possibility of
3 issuance of a "safe boater" decal to designate vessels that are certified as compliant
4 with the state and federal laws concerning safe boating.
5 WHEREAS, with fifteen thousand miles of tidal coastline, five thousand miles of
6inland waterways, nearly three hundred fifty thousand boats registered in the state for
7recreational use, and a nickname of the "Sportsman's Paradise", boats are everywhere in the
8state of Louisiana and are used not only for fishing but for skiing, sailing, and other
9recreational activities on our waterways; and
10 WHEREAS, there are numerous laws pertaining to safety equipment required to be
11onboard any boat in use including requirements for personal flotation devices, mufflers,
12lights, and fire extinguishers; and additional laws delineating safe operation of watercraft
13including requirements for safe operation, restrictions on where boats can be operated, and
14prohibitions on overloading boats, over powering boats, and riding on gunwales; and
15requirements for boat identification numbers and display of those numbers; and
16 WHEREAS, the primary enforcement of these numerous laws is carried out largely
17by the enforcement agents of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries through random
18boating safety compliance stops of boats on the water and stops that involve inspections of
19the watercraft and verification of the presence of the required equipment and registration
20materials; and
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HCR NO. 9
1 WHEREAS, although boating safety compliance stops are understandably necessary
2to maintain the safety of the entire boating community, frequent stops of vessels that are
3continually in compliance with the law diminish the enjoyment of the boating experience
4and reduce the amount of time that the boater can be on the water enjoying himself; and
5 WHEREAS, an outwardly visible and easily seen indication that a vessel has been
6checked by agents of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and found to be in
7compliance with the boating safety laws could minimize the number of random boating
8safety compliance stops any one boater must endure and would allow wildlife and fisheries
9agents to focus their attention on those boaters who do not have a positive safety compliance
10record; and
11 WHEREAS, it is possible that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries could
12implement a program whereby vessels are certified by the department to be in compliance
13with the statutory and regulatory safe boating requirements and to have no violations of
14statute or regulation on their record for a designated period of time, with the certification
15being verified by a decal that is to be placed on the outside of the boat hull near the
16identification number, thus enabling the boater to enjoy his boating activity without intrusion
17and allowing the wildlife agent to be available to enforce other actions where necessary; and
18 WHEREAS, prior to implementation of such a program, the department would need
19to evaluate the efficacy and usefulness of such a program and what impact such a program
20might have on the safety compliance and performance of the boating public in the state and
21a report on those findings to the legislature would inform the legislature of the need for
22legislation to enable a certified safe boater program.
23 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
24urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to examine the possibility of
25issuance of a "safe boater" decal to designate vessels that are certified as compliant with the
26state and federal laws concerning safe boating and submit a report of findings no later than
27March 1, 2018, to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the
28Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
30secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
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HCR NO. 9
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 9 Reengrossed 2017 Regular Session Bishop
Requests the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to examine the possibility of issuance of a "safe
boater" decal to designate vessels that are certified as compliant with the state and federal
laws concerning safe boating and submit a report of findings no later than March 1, 2018,
to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee
on Natural Resources.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment to the original resolution:
1. Change the certification from vessel operators to vessel.
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