Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Boating Occupancy and Teaching Safety Act” or the “BOATS Act” .
Boating Occupancy and Teaching Safety Act
A BILL
To require all recreational vessels to have and post passenger capacity limits, to amend title 46, United States Code, to authorize States to enter into contracts for the provision of boating safety education services under State recreational boating safety programs, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Flying bridge— The term flying bridge means an open deck above the main navigating bridge of a recreational vessel.
Passenger— The term passenger includes any individual aboard a vessel.
Recreational vessel—
In general— The term recreational vessel means any vessel of greater than 20 feet and less than 45 feet overall in length, that is—
manufactured or used primarily for pleasure; or
leased, rented, or chartered to a person for the pleasure of that person.
Exclusion— The term recreational vessel does not include a vessel that—
is subject to Coast Guard inspection;
is constructed before January 1, 2016; and
is engaged in commercial use; or
carries paying passengers.
Sec. 3 Capacity limits for recreational vessels
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall—
establish standards for determining the maximum passenger capacity in whole number of passengers and in pounds for recreational vessels;
require each manufacturer of a passenger vessel to post such maximum passenger capacity on the passenger vessel as described in subsection (b); and
require each operator of a passenger vessel to ensure that—
such maximum passenger capacity is posted as described in subsection (b) and legible to passengers; and
notice of the need to balance the weight carried by the vessel to avoid capsizing is posted as described in subsection (b) and legible to passengers.
Elements and locations of displays— The maximum passenger capacity, maximum carrying capacity in pounds, and notice of the need to balance the carried weight for a passenger vessel shall each be permanently displayed in a legible matter—
in a location that is clearly visible to a passenger boarding the passenger vessel; and
on each flying bridge of the vessel, in a location that is clearly visible to a passenger on the flying bridge.
Penalties— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall publish regulations that establish appropriate penalties for a manufacturer of a recreational vessel that does not comply with the requirements of this section.
Application— The requirements of this section shall apply to any recreational vessel manufactured after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 4 State recreational boating safety programs
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (4) by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (5) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(6) contracting practices in accordance with subsection (e).”
by adding at the end the following:
“(e) Contracting
“(1) In general—A State carrying out a State recreational boating safety program may enter into a contract with a local government or private entity to have the government or entity provide boating safety education services under the program.
“(2) Expenditure requirement—Each fiscal year, a State carrying out a State recreational boating safety program shall expend on contracts described in paragraph (1) not less than 5 percent of the Federal amounts received by that State in that fiscal year under this chapter.
“(3) Considerations—In entering into contracts under paragraph (1), a State shall consider—
“(A) the need for geographic diversity among the local governments and private entities providing education services under the contracts;
“(B) the need to have education services that address the various vessels utilized in the State;
“(C) the need to have education services that address the various waterways in the State; and
“(D) all the costs related to providing education services under the contracts that may affect the local governments and private entities providing the services.
“(4) Eligibility
“(A) In general—To be eligible to enter into a contract under paragraph (1), a local government or private entity shall—
“(i) submit to the appropriate State lead authority or agency designated under subsection (a)(4) a detailed proposal for the provision of boating safety education services; and
“(ii) certify that the government or entity will not profit financially from providing the services.
“(B) Exceptions
“(i) Existing providers—Subparagraph (A)(i) does not apply to a local government or private entity that provided boating safety education services before the date of enactment of this subsection under standards established by the relevant State.
“(ii) 501(c)(3) organizations—Subparagraph (A)(ii) does not apply to an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code if the organization certifies to the relevant State that all relevant profits will be used to advance boating safety.
“(5) Education services criteria—The Secretary, in consultation with States and relevant stakeholders, shall establish criteria for the boating safety education services provided by local governments and private entities under this subsection. Using the criteria, a State shall establish outlines specifying the requirements for education services in that State and education services in that State shall be provided in accordance with the outlines.
“(6) Additional contracting—A local government that enters into a contract under paragraph (1) to provide boating safety education services may contract with a private entity to receive assistance with the provision of those services.
“(7) Advertising—A local government or private entity that enters into a contract under paragraph (1) to provide boating safety education services may utilize funds provided under that contract to advertise such services.
“(8) Report—Each fiscal year, a State that entered into contracts under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary a report specifying the governments and entities contracted with in that fiscal year.”
Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund— Section 9504(b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking “the MAP–21” and inserting “Boating Occupancy and Teaching Safety Act” .