1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to watercraft; modifying the requirements for 
  1.3             operation of a motorboat by a youth; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 86B.305, subdivisions 
  1.5             1 and 2. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [TITLE.] 
  1.8      This act shall be called the "child boating safety act." 
  1.9      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 86B.305, 
  1.10  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subdivision 1.  [UNDER AGE 12.] Except in case of an 
  1.12  emergency, a person under age 12 may not operate or be allowed 
  1.13  to operate a watercraft propelled by a motor with a factory 
  1.14  rating of more than 30 40 horsepower unless there is present in 
  1.15  the watercraft, in addition to the operator, the operator's 
  1.16  parent or legal guardian or at least one person of the age 18 or 
  1.17  older. 
  1.18     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 86B.305, 
  1.19  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.20     Subd. 2.  [AGE 12 TO 17; PERMIT REQUIRED.] Except as 
  1.21  provided in this subdivision, a person age 12 or older and 
  1.22  younger than age 18 may not operate a motorboat powered by a 
  1.23  motor over 30 40 horsepower without possessing a valid 
  1.24  watercraft operator's permit from this state or from the 
  1.25  operator's state of residence unless there is a person age 18 or 
  2.1   older in the motorboat who is within immediate reach of the 
  2.2   controls of the motor.  For purposes of section 86B.331, the 
  2.3   person age 18 or older, as well as the actual operator, is in 
  2.4   physical control of the motorboat. 
  2.5      Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.6      This act is effective the day following final enactment.