BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  SB 427
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 14, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    SB 427 (Monning) - As Amended:  May 21, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                              
          TransportationVote:15-0
                       WP&W                                   15-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill:

          1)Redefines acceptable floatation devices, approved for boaters  
            under the age of 13 and for persons on board a personal  
            watercraft or being towed behind a boat as a skier, to be a  
            United States Coast Guard (USCG)-approved wearable floatation  
            device used in accordance with approval labels and  
            manufacturer's instructions.

          2)Expands the definition of vessel to include an artificial  
            contrivance used for transportation on water.

          3)Narrows the existing exemption from the requirement to wear a  
            personal flotation device for vessels engaged in emergency  
            rescue operations to apply only to persons that are 13 years  
            of age or older.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor non-reimbursable costs to local entities for enforcement  
          of revised watercraft operating requirements.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . This bill is intended to update and clarify basic life  
          jacket requirements and to update the definition of "vessel" to  
          include newer water recreation equipment. The USCG frequently  
          updates life jacket requirements as new products are introduced  
          in the market. Current state law does not accurately reflect  








                                                                  SB 427
                                                                  Page  2

          these changes, thus SB 427 requires that USCG-approved life  
          jackets be used in accordance with approval labels and  
          manufacturer's instructions.

          The definition of a vessel is modified to include other  
          "artificial contrivances," in addition to watercraft, used or  
          capable of being used for transportation on water. This broader  
          definition, which tracks with federal law, is intended to  
          include vessels such as flyboards and JetLev-newer types of jet  
          skis that enable the rider to become airborne, within the  
          definition.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081