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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 421 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2405
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
William M. Straus
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to kayak safety.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:William M. Straus10th Bristol1/12/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 421 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2405
By Representative Straus of Mattapoisett, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2405) of
William M. Straus relative to kayak safety. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2528 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to kayak safety.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 90B of the General laws, as appearing in the 2016
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Boating accident” the
3following definition:-
4 “Canoe”, a narrow, light boat, the sides of which meet in a point at each end, which is
5moved by 1 or more paddles.
6 SECTION 2. Said section 1 of said chapter 90B, as so appearing, is hereby further
7amended by inserting after the definition of “Jet skis” the following definition:-
8 “Kayak”, a lightweight boat that is covered, except for a single or double opening in the
9center, which is propelled by a paddle. 2 of 2
10 SECTION 3. Said section 5A of said chapter 90B, as so appearing, is hereby futher
11amended by inserting in the first sentence after the word “vessel” the following:-
12 “including canoes and kayaks”
13 SECTION 4. Said chapter 90B is hereby further amended by inserting after section 13A
14the following section:¬-
15 Section 13B. Whoever holds himself out as a kayak instructor for hire shall obtain and
16maintain:
17 (i) first aid training approved by the department of public health;
18 (ii) cardiopulmonary resuscitation training approved by the department of public health;
19and
20 (iii) a kayak instructor certification from the American Canoe Association, small craft
21safety certification from the American Red Cross and basic water rescue or equivalent water
22training.
23 The instructor shall train students on the safety procedures appropriate to the level of
24paddling difficulty. Wet exit training shall be required of all beginners and novice level operators
25who use an attached spray skirt during any part of the kayak instructional session. For the
26purposes of this section, “wet exit training” shall mean the practice of escaping from a capsized
27kayak in a controlled water setting. A liability release that limits an instructor’s responsibility to
28comply with this section shall be void.