1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to natural resources; requiring lifejackets 1.3 for children aboard watercraft; amending Minnesota 1.4 Statutes 2004, section 86B.501, by adding a 1.5 subdivision. 1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 86B.501, is 1.8 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 1.9 Subd. 3. [LIFEJACKET REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN.] (a) No person 1.10 may operate a watercraft under way with a child under 13 years 1.11 of age aboard unless the child is: 1.12 (1) wearing an appropriate personal flotation device 1.13 approved under subdivision 1; or 1.14 (2) below the top deck or in an enclosed cabin. 1.15 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to commercial watercraft 1.16 where the child is a passenger and the operator is licensed by 1.17 the state of Minnesota or the United States Coast Guard to carry 1.18 passengers for hire. 1.19 (c) A violation of this subdivision prior to May 1, 2006, 1.20 shall not result in a penalty, but is punishable only by a 1.21 safety warning. 1.22 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 1.23 following final enactment.