Senate Bill 2782

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-21-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE EXEMPTION FROM BOATING CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENT IF RENTING BOAT FROM PERSON ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF RENTING BOATS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 59-21-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

59-21-85. (1) (a) No motorboat required to be numbered under this chapter shall be operated by any person who is under the age of twelve (12) years, unless he possesses a certificate as required under this section and is also accompanied by a parent, guardian or other person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and qualified and capable of operating the same.

(b) A motorboat required to be numbered under this chapter may not be operated by any person born after June 30, 1980, unless the person has completed a course in boating safety conducted or approved by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and the person has in his immediate possession while operating a motorboat a certificate of satisfactory completion of the boating safety course.

(c) The requirement of possessing a certificate under this subsection shall not apply to any person operating a motorboat that is rented from a person engaged in the business of renting motorboats. This paragraph (c) shall repeal on July 1, 2003.

(2) Boating safety courses shall be held by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, or instructors designated and approved by the department. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall issue a certificate to each person who satisfactorily completes the boating safety course.

(3) In lieu of any other penalties provided for a violation of this chapter, a violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.