NY State Senate Bill 2015-S2093

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2016	referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Jan 21, 2015	referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Law Section:: Navigation Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §40, Nav L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2011-2012: S7288
2013-2014: S1442
2017-2018: S3524

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the operation of rowboats, canoes and kayaks.

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S2093

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the navigation law, in relation to the
operation of rowboats, canoes and kayaks

PURPOSE:  This bill makes it mandatory for all persons aboard a
rowboat, canoe or kayak to wear a personal flotation device at all
times while the vessel is underway.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1:

Corrects a clerical error of the spelling of "superseding".

Corrects a clerical error to include "or kayak" in order to be
consistent with other provisions in the navigation law.

Removes "or a rowboat, canoe or kayak" from the provision requiring
all persons under age twelve to wear a personal flotation device at
all times because the new law requires all persons, regardless of age,
to wear a personal flotation device at all times.

Removes "or a rowboat, canoe or kayak" from the provision requiring
all persons aboard all vessels to wear a personal flotation device at
all times between November first and May first because the new law

requires all persons, regardless of the season, to wear a personal
flotation device at all times.

Adds a new paragraph (f), which makes it mandatory for all persons
aboard a rowboat, canoe or kayak to wear a personal flotation device
at all times when such vessel is underway.

Section 2: The effective date is 30 days after the act becomes law.

JUSTIFICATION:  In New York, we are fortunate to have considerable
access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Lakes, the Long Island Sound,
the Finger Lakes, the Hudson River and many other waterways that touch
every corner of our State. This access allows us to take part in any
number of water-based recreational activities, including operating
rowboats, canoes and kayaks. Operating these vessels helps us stay
active and offers a fun and engaging way to experience New York's
scenic waterways. It should therefore be our priority to ensure these
recreational activities are performed safely by persons of all ages
and abilities.

Current law provides that from November first through May first a
personal flotation device ("PFD") must be worn by all persons at all
times while onboard a rowboat, canoe or kayak. However, from May first
through November first, a PFD must merely be onboard a rowboat, canoe
or kayak, but need not actually be worn by persons over 12 years old
(children under 12 must wear a PFD at all times on vessels under 65
feet).

On August 12, 2011, Patrick Luca, a 41 year old father, husband, and
21-year veteran of the New York Police Department, was kayaking with
his young son on the Long Island Sound. At some point the vessel


tipped over and Patrick and his son were ejected from the kayak.
Patrick, who was not wearing a PFD, which, during the summer months,
was not required to be worn, tragically drowned. His son-who was
wearing a PFD-was found alive a half-hour later by a boater passing
by.

Unfortunately, this type of accident is not uncommon. According to the
United States Coast Guard, in 2010 176 persons died while operating or
riding upon a rowboat, canoe or kayak. Of those 176, 128 were known to
not be wearing a PFD at the time of their death (a 73% fatality sate).
Thus, nearly three-quarters of all persons who died while onboard a
rowboat, canoe or kayak were not wearing a PFD.  Rowboats, canoes and
kayaks sit low to the water and therefore are susceptible to tipping,
particularly in strong currents, bad weather, and the like. Even in
calm water, a sudden change in the boats balance, such as when one or
more persons try to stand or switch positions in the vessel, and can
lead to tipping. This legislation would require a PFD be worn by all
persons aboard a rowboat, canoe or kayak at all times-including the
summer months.

In the memory of Patrick Luca, it should be our prerogative to make a
concerted effort to ensure the safety of those New Yorkers who
recreationally enjoy our waterways. This legislation will do just
that.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2012: Passed Senate/Assembly transportation
committee 2013-14: Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after
it becomes law.

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  2093

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 21, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sen. FLANAGAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
  Parks and Recreation

AN ACT to amend the navigation law, in  relation  to  the  operation  of
  rowboats, canoes and kayaks

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The opening paragraph and paragraphs (c), (d)  and  (e)  of
subdivision 1 of section 40 of the navigation law, the opening paragraph
as  amended by chapter 163 of the laws of 1991, paragraph (c) as amended
by chapter 74 of the laws of 1998, paragraph (d) as amended  by  chapter
484 of the laws of 2005 and paragraph (e) as added by chapter 115 of the
laws  of  2009,  are amended and a new paragraph (f) is added to read as
follows:
  Equipment required herein shall be carried on every vessel  except  as
otherwise provided, while underway, or at anchor with any person aboard,
while  on the navigable waters of the state and any tidewaters bordering
on or lying within the boundaries of Nassau and Suffolk counties. Should
the federal government adopt  vessel  equipment  requirements  different
from  those contained in this section, the commissioner shall be author-
ized to adopt rules and regulations [superceding] SUPERSEDING the vessel
equipment requirements of  this  section  to  achieve  consistency  with
federal  standards, and shall submit such proposed rules and regulations
to the secretary of state in accordance with  the  state  administrative
procedure  act  within  thirty days of the adoption of federal equipment
requirements or submit a statement as to why such conforming changes are
not being proposed.
  (c) Every operator or person  in  charge  or  control  of  a  pleasure
vessel,  rowboat  [or], canoe[,] OR KAYAK as described in paragraphs (a)
and (b) of this subdivision, shall be responsible  for  compliance  with
the provisions of this subdivision.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05204-01-5

S. 2093                             2

  (d)  No person shall operate a pleasure vessel of Class A, one, two or
three as classified and defined in subdivision  one  of  section  forty-
three of this article [or a rowboat, canoe or kayak] nor shall the owner
of  such  vessel  while on board such vessel knowingly permit its opera-
tion, unless each person on such vessel under the age of twelve is wear-
ing  a  securely  fastened  United  States Coast Guard approved wearable
personal flotation device of an appropriate size  when  said  vessel  is
underway. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any person
on  such  vessel  under the age of twelve who is within a fully enclosed
cabin.
  (e) No owner or operator of a pleasure  vessel  less  than  twenty-one
feet[,  including  rowboats, canoes, and kayaks] shall permit its opera-
tion, between November first and May first, unless each person on  board
such  vessel  is  wearing  a securely fastened United States Coast Guard
approved wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size  when
such vessel is underway.
  (F) NO OWNER OR OPERATOR OF A ROWBOAT, CANOE OR KAYAK SHALL PERMIT ITS
OPERATION  UNLESS EACH PERSON ON BOARD SUCH VESSEL IS WEARING A SECURELY
FASTENED UNITED STATES COAST GUARD APPROVED WEARABLE PERSONAL  FLOTATION
DEVICE OF AN APPROPRIATE SIZE WHEN SUCH VESSEL IS UNDERWAY.
  S  2.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.

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Senate Bill S2093

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Details

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S2093

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Sponsored By

John J. Flanagan

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Details

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S2093 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments