CHARTER AND LIVERY BOATS - S.B. 1403: FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 1403 (as reported with amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Philip E. Hoffman
Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Forestry
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 445 (Charter and Livery Boat Safety) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:
-- Require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to issue charter boat licenses (rather than inspection certificates, as currently required).
-- Delete requirements that the DNR perform dockside inspections every 24 months, and dry dock inspections every 72 months.
-- Require charter boat owners to have their boats inspected by certified marine surveyors.
-- Establish a $100 license application fee for each charter or livery boat.
-- Eliminate dry dock and dockside inspection fees.
-- Increase the charter boat pilot's license examination fee from $30 to $50.
-- Impose penalties on charter boat operators engaged in fishing who did not submit monthly catch activity reports.
-- Prohibit a livery boat owner from allowing a boat to depart if the person who would operate it was under the influence.
-- Prohibit a livery boat owner from renting a personal watercraft without providing the operator and passengers with a personal flotation device, at no charge.
(Under the bill, "certified marine surveyor" would mean an individual who was a certified or associate member of a national association or society that certified or accredited marine surveyors, an individual whose primary source of income was derived from the inspection and survey of vessels, or an individual whose name appeared on a list of approved marine surveyors that was provided by the Department.)
MCL 324.44501 et al. - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in a reduction of approximately $20,000 per year in revenue from inspection fees. The bill also would lead to an indeterminate reduction in staff time and associated spending for inspection activities
Date Completed: 10-5-00 - Fiscal Analyst: P. Grahamfloor\sb1403 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.