LRB-3614/1
MGG:kmg:pg
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
February 2, 2004 - Introduced by Representatives Hines, Ott, Black, Miller,
Townsend, Hundertmark, Berceau, Bies
and Ainsworth, cosponsored by
Senator Schultz. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AB790,1,6 1An Act to repeal 30.68 (3) (b); to renumber 30.68 (3) (a); to renumber and
2amend
30.68 (3) (c) 1., 30.68 (3) (c) 2., 30.68 (3) (c) 3. and 30.68 (3) (d); to amend
330.68 (3) (title), 30.742, 30.80 (2) and 30.80 (2m); and to create 30.678 (title)
4and (1), 30.678 (2) (title) and (c) and 30.678 (3) of the statutes; relating to:
5operation of motorboats by persons who are at least 16 years of age and born
6after a certain date.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a person who is 16 years of age or older may operate a
motorboat without completing a boating safety course or otherwise being tested as
to his or her knowledge regarding boating operation and safety. Under this bill, a
person who is 16 years of age or older and who is born after January 1, 1987, must
complete a boating safety course established by the Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) and must be issued a certificate of completion. Under current law,
a certificate issued by another state or a Canadian province will be honored in this
state if the course content substantially meets the requirements for the course
established by DNR.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB790, s. 1 1Section 1. 30.678 (title) and (1) of the statutes are created to read:
AB790,2,4 230.678 (title) Boating safety certificates; requirements; exemptions;
3operation by minors.
(1) Motorboats other than personal watercraft. (a) No
4person under 10 years of age may operate a motorboat.
AB790,2,85 (b) No person who is at least 10 years of age but under 12 years of age may
6operate a motorboat unless he or she is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent
7or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by
8a parent or guardian.
AB790,2,109 (c) No person who is at least 12 years of age but under 16 years of age may
10operate a motorboat unless one of the following applies:
AB790,2,1211 1. The person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1)
12(a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
AB790,2,1413 2. The person is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or guardian or by
14a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by a parent or guardian.
AB790,2,1815 (d) No person who was born on or after January 1, 1987, and who is 16 years
16of age or older may operate a motorboat unless the person holds a valid safety
17certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is
18honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
AB790,2,1919 (e) Paragraphs (a) to (d) do not apply to the operation of a personal watercraft.
AB790, s. 2 20Section 2. 30.678 (2) (title) and (c) of the statutes are created to read:
AB790,2,2121 30.678 (2) (title) Personal watercraft.
AB790,3,4
1(c) No person who was born on or after January 1, 1987, and who is 16 years
2of age or older may operate a personal watercraft unless the person holds a valid
3safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that
4is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
AB790, s. 3 5Section 3. 30.678 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
AB790,3,86 30.678 (3) Exemption. Subsections (1) (b), (c), and (d) and (2) (b) and (c) do not
7apply to a person while the person is operating a motorboat as may be required as
8part of a boating safety course under s. 30.74 (1).
AB790, s. 4 9Section 4. 30.68 (3) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB790,3,1010 30.68 (3) (title) Operation by incapacitated person or minor.
AB790, s. 5 11Section 5. 30.68 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 30.68 (3).
AB790, s. 6 12Section 6. 30.68 (3) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
AB790, s. 7 13Section 7. 30.68 (3) (c) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 30.678 (2) (a) and
14amended to read:
AB790,3,1615 30.678 (2) (a) No person under the age of 12 years of age may operate, lease or
16rent
a personal watercraft.
AB790, s. 8 17Section 8. 30.68 (3) (c) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 30.625 (1m) and
18amended to read:
AB790,3,2019 30.625 (1m) No person who is at least 12 years of age but under 16 years of age
20may rent or lease a personal watercraft.
AB790, s. 9 21Section 9. 30.68 (3) (c) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 30.678 (2) (b) and
22amended to read:
AB790,4,223 30.678 (2) (b) No person who is at least 12 years of age or older but under 16
24years of age may operate a personal watercraft unless he or she is in possession of

1a certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is
2honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c)
.
AB790, s. 10 3Section 10. 30.68 (3) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 30.678 (4) and amended
4to read:
AB790,4,85 30.678 (4) Parent and guardian liability. A violation of par. (b) or (c) sub. (1)
6(a), (b), (c), or (d) or (2) (a), (b), or (c) that is
done with the knowledge of a parent or
7guardian shall be deemed considered a violation by the parent or guardian, and shall
8be
punishable under s. 30.80.
AB790, s. 11 9Section 11. 30.742 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB790,4,13 1030.742 Water exhibitions and races; rules. For water exhibitions or races,
11the department may promulgate rules that provide exemptions from any of the
12requirements or restrictions under s. 30.61, 30.62, 30.65, 30.66, 30.678, 30.68 or
1330.69.
AB790, s. 12 14Section 12. 30.80 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB790,4,1815 30.80 (2) Any person violating s. 30.68 (2) shall be fined not more than $200
16or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both. Any person violating s. 30.68 shall
17be required to obtain a certificate of satisfactory completion of a safety course under
18s. 30.74 (1).
AB790, s. 13 19Section 13. 30.80 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB790,4,2420 30.80 (2m) Any person violating s. 30.678 or 30.68 shall be required to obtain
21a certificate of satisfactory completion of a safety course under s. 30.74 (1). If the
22person has a valid certificate at the time that the court imposes sentence under sub.
23(1) or (2), the court shall permanently revoke the certificate and order the person to
24obtain a certificate of satisfactory completion of a safety course under s. 30.74 (1).
AB790,4,2525 (End)
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