Boating; requires safety course and sets maximum speed limit for Smith Mountain Lake. (SB528)

Introduced By

Sen. Steve Newman (R-Forest)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Boating Safety. Makes it a Class 4 misdemeanor for anyone to operate a motorboat on the waters of Smith Mountain Lake without having successfully completed an approved boating safety education course. The education requirement is phased in so that by July 1, 2015, all motorboat operators will have been required to complete and pass the course or an equivalency exam. The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries is directed to develop and administer the mandatory boating safety education program through the promulgation of regulations, taking into account comments from the public. There are a number of ways a person can comply with the law other than successfully completing an approved course, such as passing an equivalency examination, possessing a valid license issued to maritime personnel, etc. The bill also repeals the current law that requires at least one game warden to patrol Smith Mountain Lake during the boating season. Persons participating in regattas, races, marine parades, tournaments or exhibitions approved by the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries or the U.S. Coast Guard are exempt from having to complete a boating safety course. Read the Bill »

Status

03/01/2006: Failed to Pass in Committee

History

DateAction
01/11/2006Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/06 067235776
01/11/2006Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
01/23/2006Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitite SB527"
01/23/2006Committee substitute printed 067262776-S1
01/24/2006Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
01/24/2006VOTE: (39-Y 0-N)
01/25/2006Read second time
01/25/2006Reading of substitute waived
01/25/2006Committee substitute agreed to 067262776-S1
01/25/2006Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB528S1
01/26/2006Read third time and passed Senate (38-Y 0-N)
01/26/2006VOTE: (38-Y 0-N)
01/26/2006Communicated to House
02/13/2006Placed on Calendar
02/13/2006Read first time
02/13/2006Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
03/01/2006Continued to 2007 in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (12-Y 10-N)