 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
personal flotation devices; rowing; exception
Purpose
Exempts rowing shells from the requirement for children who are 12 years old or younger to wear a personal floatation device (PFD) when on board, if certain requirements are met.
Background
A watercraft is a boat designed to be propelled by machinery, oars, paddles or wind action upon a sail for navigation on the water, or as defined by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission (Commission) (A.R.S. § 5-301). All watercraft, except sailboats, must carry one U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved PFD for each person on board. PFDs must be in good and serviceable condition, readily accessible for immediate use and of the type and category prescribed by the Commission (A.R.S. § 5-331).
A child who is 12 years old or younger and on board a watercraft must wear a properly fitting wearable PFD whenever the watercraft is underway, except when on board a small passenger vessel in certain circumstances (A.R.S. § 5-331). Commission rules require children 12 years old and younger to wear a USCG-approved Type I, II or III PFD that fits properly and is worn correctly while underway on any vessel (Commission). The Commission's PFD requirement does not apply to a racing shell or rowing skull that: 1) is manually propelled; 2) is recognized by a national or international association for use in competitive racing; and 3) carries only equipment used solely for competitive racing, as designed (A.A.C. R12-4-511).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Includes rowing shells, as exempt from the PFD requirement for children who are 12 years old or younger, when used for practice, training or rowing competitions if:
a) supervised from a launch in close proximity to the rowing shell by a coach who is certified by a nationally recognized rowing association;
b) the launch carries lifesaving equipment on board and complies with the requirements of a nationally recognized rowing association; and
c) the operator of the rowing shell has successfully passed a swimming test certified by a nationally recognized rowing association.
2. Defines rowing shell as a manually propelled watercraft that is recognized by a national racing association for use in practice, training or competitive rowing.
3. Defines launch as any motorized watercraft that carries a coach and is used to follow and monitor rowing shells during practice, training or competitive rowing events.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 19, 2023
KJA/CB/sr