ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: TAT DP 6-1-0-0 | 3^rd Read 24-4-2-0

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SB1010: personal flotation devices; rowing; exception

Sponsor: Senator Kavanagh, LD 3

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Overview

Exempts children 12 and under from being required to wear personal flotation devices while in rowing shells being used for practice, training or competitive events if certain conditions are met.

History

Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Requirements

The U.S. Coast Guard requires all recreational vessels to be equipped with at least one wearable PFD for each person on board (33 C.F.R. § 175.15). Children under 13 on board a recreational vessel must wear an appropriate PFD approved by the U.S. Coast Guard at all times unless located below decks or in an enclosed cabin (33 C.F.R. § 175.15). Racing shells, rowing sculls, racing canoes and racing kayaks are exempt from this requirement (33 C.F.R. § 175.17). Additionally, federal regulations allow a state's statutory requirements for children of a certain age to wear an approved PFD while on state waters to apply instead of the federal regulatory requirements (33 C.F.R. § 175.25).

All Arizona watercraft are generally required to carry U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs as established by statute and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission's regulations. Specifically, statute requires every person onboard the watercraft, including children 12 and younger, to wear a PFD. However, this requirement does not apply to small passenger vessels that are not used for commercial purposes on navigable waters, have a U.S. Coast Guard certificate of inspection, are operated by licensed pilots and are transporting customers for short trips near a waterway's shore (A.R.S. §§ 5-331 and 5-350). However, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission's regulations exempt from the PFD requirements  children 12 and younger who are operating a racing shell or rowing skull during competitive racing or supervised training if the racing shell or rowing skull meets certain requirements (A.A.C. R12-4-511(F)).

U.S. Rowing Association Requirements

The U.S. Rowing Association is the national governing body for the sport of rowing. The association recognizes individual and organizational members and maintains requirements for equipment and coaches to ensure the safety of participants in official rowing events. This association has varying requirements for coaches based on their level. The minimum level of coach certification includes CPR, First Aid and boating license or certification requirements. Additionally, the coaching/safety launch occupied by a coach during practice, training and/or competition must have equipment including enough PFDs for each rower under the coach's care, a throwable PFD, a waterproof First Aid kit, emergency blankets and a sound producing device.

Provisions

1. Exempts children 12 and under from being required to wear PFDs while in rowing shells that are underway so long as the rowing shells are being used for the purposes of practice, training or rowing competitions and all the following conditions apply:

a) the rowing practice, training or competition is being supervised by a coach who is certified by a nationally recognized rowing association and who is in a launch in close proximity to the rowing shell;

b) the launch complies with the requirements of a nationally recognized rowing association and carries lifesaving equipment on board; and

c) the operator of the rowing shell has successfully passed a swimming test that is certified by a nationally recognized rowing association. (Sec. 2)

2. Defines the following terms:

a) launch as any motorized watercraft that carries a coach and that is used to follow and monitor rowing shells during practice, training or competitive events;

b) rowing shell as a manually propelled watercraft that is recognized by a national racing association for use in practice, training or competitive rowing. (Sec. 1)

3. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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7.                   SB 1010

8. Initials PAB/AH     Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water

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