Florida Senate - 2022 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
Bill No. SB 606
Ì271670#Î271670
576-02375-22
Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Appropriations
(Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and
General Government)
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to boating safety; providing a short
3 title; amending s. 327.30, F.S.; authorizing a court
4 to impose a specified fine for certain boating
5 collisions and accidents; requiring such fines to be
6 deposited into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust
7 Fund for specified purposes; defining the terms
8 “convicted” and “conviction”; amending s. 327.54,
9 F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting liveries, beginning
10 on a specified date, from offering a vessel for lease
11 or rent without a livery permit; specifying
12 requirements and qualifications for the permit;
13 authorizing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
14 Commission to adopt rules; providing penalties for
15 permit violations; revising the conditions under which
16 a livery may not knowingly lease or rent a vessel;
17 requiring specified boating safety education courses
18 for certain instructors; requiring a person receiving
19 safety instruction to provide the livery with a
20 specified signed attestation; requiring liveries to
21 report certain issues and accidents; requiring
22 liveries to make facilities and records available to
23 law enforcement upon notice; providing penalties for
24 violations and additional penalties for subsequent
25 violations; prohibiting violators from operating a
26 vessel or acting as a livery for a specified timeframe
27 after such a violation; authorizing the commission,
28 beginning on a specified date, to revoke or refuse to
29 issue permits for repeated violations; amending s.
30 327.73, F.S.; increasing fines for violations of
31 certain boating regulations; providing fines for
32 improper transfers of title and failures to update
33 vessel registration information; authorizing certain
34 fees and penalties deposited into the Marine Resources
35 Conservation Trust Fund to be used for law enforcement
36 purposes; amending s. 327.731, F.S.; imposing a fine
37 for persons convicted of certain criminal or
38 noncriminal infractions; providing for the deposit of
39 such fines into the Marine Resources Conservation
40 Trust Fund; requiring the commission to maintain a
41 program to ensure compliance with certain boating
42 safety education requirements; specifying requirements
43 for the program; amending s. 328.03, F.S.; providing
44 that an improper transfer of vessel title is subject
45 to a civil penalty; amending s. 328.48, F.S.;
46 requiring that the address provided in a vessel
47 registration application and a certificate of
48 registration be a physical residential or business
49 address; authorizing the commission to accept post
50 office box addresses in lieu of the physical
51 residential or business address; providing that a
52 person who fails to update his or her vessel
53 registration information within a specified timeframe
54 is subject to a civil penalty; providing an
55 appropriation to, and authorizing positions for, the
56 commission to create an Illegal Boating Strike Team;
57 providing the duties of the strike team; providing
58 additional appropriations to the commission and
59 authorizing a position for a specified purpose;
60 providing effective dates.
61
62 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
63
64 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Boating Safety Act
65 of 2022.”
66 Section 2. Subsection (7) is added to section 327.30,
67 Florida Statutes, to read:
68 327.30 Collisions, accidents, and casualties.—
69 (7) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a
70 court may order a person convicted of a violation of this
71 section or of any rule adopted or order issued by the commission
72 pursuant to this section to pay an additional fine of up to
73 $1,000 per violation. All fines assessed and collected pursuant
74 to this subsection shall be remitted by the clerk of the court
75 to the Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine
76 Resources Conservation Trust Fund to be used to enhance state
77 and local law enforcement activities related to boating
78 infractions. As used in this subsection, the terms “convicted”
79 and “conviction” mean any judicial disposition other than
80 acquittal or dismissal.
81 Section 3. Section 327.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to
82 read:
83 327.54 Liveries; safety regulations; penalty.—
84 (1) As used in this section, the term:
85 (a) “Conviction” means any judicial disposition other than
86 acquittal or dismissal.
87 (b) “Livery” means a person who offers a vessel for use by
88 another in exchange for any type of consideration when such
89 person does not also provide the lessee or renter with a
90 captain, a crew, or any type of staff or personnel to operate,
91 oversee, maintain, or manage the vessel. A vessel rented or
92 leased by a livery is a livery vessel as defined in s. 327.02.
93 (c) “Seaworthy” means the vessel and all of its parts and
94 equipment, including, but not limited to, engines, bilge pumps,
95 and kill switches, are functional and reasonably fit for their
96 intended purpose.
97 (2) Beginning on January 1, 2023, a livery may not offer a
98 vessel for lease or rent without first being issued a no-cost
99 livery permit by the commission. The permit must be renewed
100 annually. To qualify for issuance or renewal of a livery permit,
101 an applicant must provide the commission with a list of all
102 vessels offered by the livery for lease or rent by another, have
103 valid insurance pursuant to paragraph (3)(j), have an amount of
104 United States Coast Guard-approved lawful personal floatation
105 devices on site sufficient to accommodate the capacity of all
106 vessels offered by the livery for rent or lease by another, have
107 on site all safety equipment required by s. 327.50 and the Code
108 of Federal Regulations sufficient to equip all vessels offered
109 by the livery for rent or lease by another, and display the
110 information required by paragraph (3)(f). If, before the annual
111 renewal of the permit, the information required by this
112 subsection changes, the livery must provide the commission with
113 the updated information within 10 days after the change.
114 (a) The commission may adopt rules to implement this
115 subsection.
116 (b) A person who violates this subsection commits a
117 misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
118 775.082 or s. 775.083.
119 (3) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
120 vessel to any person:
121 (a) When the number of persons intending to use the vessel
122 exceeds the number considered to constitute a maximum safety
123 load for the vessel as specified on the authorized persons
124 capacity plate of the vessel.
125 (b) When the horsepower of the motor exceeds the capacity
126 of the vessel.
127 (c) When the vessel does not contain the required safety
128 equipment required under s. 327.50.
129 (d) When the vessel is not seaworthy, is a derelict vessel
130 as defined in s. 823.11, or is at risk of becoming derelict as
131 provided in s. 327.4107.
132 (e) When the vessel is equipped with a motor of 10
133 horsepower or greater, Unless the livery provides pre-rental
134 prerental or pre-ride preride instruction in compliance with
135 rules established by the commission. The instruction must
136 include that includes, but need not be limited to:
137 1. Operational characteristics of the vessel to be rented.
138 2. Safe vessel operation and vessel right-of-way.
139 3. The responsibility of the vessel operator for the safe
140 and proper operation of the vessel.
141 4. Local characteristics of the waterway where the vessel
142 will be operated, such as navigational hazards, the presence of
143 boating-restricted areas, and water depths.
144 5. Emergency procedures such as appropriate responses to
145 capsizing, falls overboard, taking on water, and vessel
146 accidents.
147
148 Any person delivering the information specified in this
149 paragraph must have successfully completed a boater safety
150 course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
151 Administrators and this state.
152 (f) Unless the livery displays boating safety information
153 in a place visible to the renting public. The commission shall
154 prescribe by rule, pursuant to chapter 120, the contents and
155 size of the boating safety information to be displayed.
156 (g) Unless the livery has a written agreement with the
157 renter or lessee. The written agreement must include a list of
158 the names, addresses, and dates of birth for all persons who
159 will be aboard the vessel, as well as the time the vessel is
160 required to be returned to the livery or another specified
161 location and an emergency contact name, address, and telephone
162 number. The livery shall maintain each agreement for no less
163 than 1 year and, upon request, make each agreement available for
164 inspection by law enforcement.
165 (h) Who is required to comply with s. 327.395, unless such
166 person presents to the livery the documentation required by s.
167 327.395(2) for the operation of a vessel or meets the exemption
168 provided under s. 327.395(6)(f).
169 (i) Who is under 18 years of age.
170 (j) Unless the livery first obtains and carries in full
171 force and effect a policy from a licensed insurance carrier in
172 this state which insures the livery and renter against any
173 accident, loss, injury, property damage, or other casualty
174 caused by or resulting from the operation of the vessel. The
175 insurance policy must provide coverage of at least $500,000 per
176 person and $1 million per event. The livery and renter shall
177 have proof of such insurance available for inspection at the
178 location where the livery’s vessels are being leased or rented,
179 or offered for lease or rent, and shall provide to each renter
180 the insurance carrier’s name and address and the insurance
181 policy number.
182 (4) Notwithstanding the person’s age or any exemptions
183 provided in s. 327.395, any person delivering instruction
184 regarding the safe operation of vessels or pre-rental or pre
185 ride instruction in accordance with subsection (3) must have
186 successfully completed a boating safety education course
187 approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
188 Administrators and this state.
189 (5) A person who receives instruction regarding the safe
190 operation of vessels or pre-rental or pre-ride instruction in
191 accordance with subsection (3) must provide the livery with a
192 signed form attesting to each component of the instruction.
193 (a) The commission shall establish by rule the content of
194 the form.
195 (b) The form must be signed by the individual providing the
196 instruction.
197 (c) The livery shall maintain the form for no less than 90
198 days and, upon request, make the form available for inspection
199 by law enforcement.
200 (2) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
201 vessel to a person who is required to comply with s. 327.395
202 unless such person presents to the livery the documentation
203 required by s. 327.395(2) for the operation of a vessel or meets
204 the exemption provided under s. 327.395(6)(f).
205 (6)(3) If a vessel rented or leased by a livery is
206 unnecessarily overdue more than 1 hour after the contracted
207 vessel rental time has expired, the livery must shall notify law
208 enforcement and the United States Coast Guard the proper
209 authorities.
210 (7) If a vessel rented or leased by a livery is involved in
211 an accident, the livery must, as applicable under s. 327.301,
212 report the accident.
213 (8) A livery shall make its facilities and records
214 available for inspection upon request by law enforcement no
215 later than 24 hours after receiving notice from law enforcement.
216 (9)(a) A person who violates this section other than
217 subsection (2), but who has not been convicted of a violation of
218 this section within the past 3 years, commits a misdemeanor of
219 the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
220 775.083.
221 (b) Unless the stricter penalties in paragraph (c) apply, a
222 person who violates this section other than subsection (2)
223 within 3 years after a previous conviction of a violation of
224 this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
225 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a
226 minimum mandatory fine of $500.
227 (c) A person who violates this section other than
228 subsection (2) within 5 years after two previous convictions for
229 a violation of this section commits a misdemeanor of the first
230 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with
231 a minimum mandatory fine of $1,000.
232 (10) A person who commits more than one violation of this
233 section, other than subsection (2), within a 3-year period may
234 not act as a livery during a 90-day period immediately after
235 being charged with that violation. Beginning January 1, 2023,
236 the commission may revoke or refuse to issue a permit under
237 subsection (2) based on repeated violations of this section.
238 (4)(a) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
239 personal watercraft to any person who is under 18 years of age.
240 (b) A livery may not knowingly lease, hire, or rent a
241 personal watercraft to any person who has not received
242 instruction in the safe handling of personal watercraft, in
243 compliance with rules established by the commission pursuant to
244 chapter 120.
245 (c) Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling
246 of personal watercraft pursuant to a program established by rule
247 of the commission must provide the livery with a written
248 statement attesting to the same.
249 (5) A livery may not lease, hire, or rent any personal
250 watercraft or offer to lease, hire, or rent any personal
251 watercraft unless the livery first obtains and carries in full
252 force and effect a policy from a licensed insurance carrier in
253 this state, insuring against any accident, loss, injury,
254 property damage, or other casualty caused by or resulting from
255 the operation of the personal watercraft. The insurance policy
256 shall provide coverage of at least $500,000 per person and $1
257 million per event. The livery must have proof of such insurance
258 available for inspection at the location where personal
259 watercraft are being leased, hired, or rented, or offered for
260 lease, hire, or rent, and shall provide to each renter the
261 insurance carrier’s name and address and the insurance policy
262 number.
263 (6) Any person convicted of violating this section commits
264 a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
265 775.082 or s. 775.083.
266 Section 4. Subsections (1) and (8) of section 327.73,
267 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
268 327.73 Noncriminal infractions.—
269 (1) Violations of the following provisions of the vessel
270 laws of this state are noncriminal infractions:
271 (a) Section 328.46, relating to operation of unregistered
272 and unnumbered vessels.
273 (b) Section 328.48(4), relating to display of number and
274 possession of registration certificate.
275 (c) Section 328.48(5), relating to display of decal.
276 (d) Section 328.52(2), relating to display of number.
277 (e) Section 328.54, relating to spacing of digits and
278 letters of identification number.
279 (f) Section 328.60, relating to military personnel and
280 registration of vessels.
281 (g) Section 328.72(13), relating to operation with an
282 expired registration, for which the penalty is:
283 1. For a first or subsequent offense of s. 328.72(13)(a),
284 up to a maximum of $100 $50.
285 2. For a first offense of s. 328.72(13)(b), up to a maximum
286 of $250.
287 3. For a second or subsequent offense of s. 328.72(13)(b),
288 up to a maximum of $500. Any person cited for a noncriminal
289 infraction under this subparagraph may not have the provisions
290 of paragraph (4)(a) available to him or her but must appear
291 before the designated official at the time and location of the
292 scheduled hearing.
293 (h) Section 327.33(2), relating to careless operation.
294 (i) Section 327.37, relating to water skiing, aquaplaning,
295 parasailing, and similar activities.
296 (j) Section 327.44, relating to interference with
297 navigation.
298 (k) Violations relating to boating-restricted areas and
299 speed limits:
300 1. Established by the commission or by local governmental
301 authorities pursuant to s. 327.46.
302 2. Speed limits established pursuant to s. 379.2431(2).
303 (l) Section 327.48, relating to regattas and races.
304 (m) Section 327.50(1) and (2), relating to required safety
305 equipment, lights, and shapes.
306 (n) Section 327.65, relating to muffling devices.
307 (o) Section 327.33(3)(b), relating to a violation of
308 navigation rules:
309 1. That does not result in an accident; or
310 2. That results in an accident not causing serious bodily
311 injury or death, for which the penalty is:
312 a. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $500 $250.
313 b. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $1,000 $750.
314 c. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
315 $1,500 $1,000.
316 (p) Section 327.39(1), (2), (3), and (5), relating to
317 personal watercraft.
318 (q) Section 327.53(1), (2), (3), and (8), relating to
319 marine sanitation.
320 (r) Section 327.53(4), (5), and (7), relating to marine
321 sanitation, and s. 327.60, relating to no-discharge zones, for
322 which the civil penalty is $250.
323 (s) Section 327.395, relating to boater safety education.
324 However, a person cited for violating the requirements of s.
325 327.395 relating to failure to have required proof of boating
326 safety education in his or her possession may not be convicted
327 if, before or at the time of a county court hearing, the person
328 produces proof of the boating safety education identification
329 card or temporary certificate for verification by the hearing
330 officer or the court clerk and the identification card or
331 temporary certificate was valid at the time the person was
332 cited.
333 (t) Section 327.52(3), relating to operation of overloaded
334 or overpowered vessels.
335 (u) Section 327.331, relating to divers-down warning
336 devices, except for violations meeting the requirements of
337 s. 327.33.
338 (v) Section 327.391(1), relating to the requirement for an
339 adequate muffler on an airboat.
340 (w) Section 327.391(3), relating to the display of a flag
341 on an airboat.
342 (x) Section 253.04(3)(a), relating to carelessly causing
343 seagrass scarring, for which the civil penalty upon conviction
344 is:
345 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
346 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
347 prior conviction, $250.
348 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
349 prior conviction, $500.
350 4. For a fourth or subsequent offense occurring within 72
351 months after a prior conviction, $1,000.
352 (y) Section 327.45, relating to protection zones for
353 springs, for which the penalty is:
354 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
355 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
356 prior conviction, $250.
357 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
358 prior conviction, $500.
359 4. For a fourth or subsequent offense occurring within 72
360 months after a prior conviction, $1,000.
361 (z) Section 327.4108, relating to the anchoring of vessels
362 in anchoring limitation areas, for which the penalty is:
363 1. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $100 $50.
364 2. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $250 $100.
365 3. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
366 $500 $250.
367 (aa) Section 327.4107, relating to vessels at risk of
368 becoming derelict on waters of this state, for which the civil
369 penalty is:
370 1. For a first offense, $100.
371 2. For a second offense occurring 30 days or more after a
372 first offense, $250.
373 3. For a third or subsequent offense occurring 30 days or
374 more after a previous offense, $500.
375
376 A vessel that is the subject of three or more violations issued
377 pursuant to the same paragraph of s. 327.4107(2) within an 18
378 month period which result in dispositions other than acquittal
379 or dismissal shall be declared to be a public nuisance and
380 subject to ss. 705.103(2) and (4) and 823.11(3). The commission,
381 an officer of the commission, or a law enforcement agency or
382 officer specified in s. 327.70 may relocate, remove, or cause to
383 be relocated or removed such public nuisance vessels from waters
384 of this state. The commission, an officer of the commission, or
385 a law enforcement agency or officer acting pursuant to this
386 paragraph upon waters of this state shall be held harmless for
387 all damages to the vessel resulting from such relocation or
388 removal unless the damage results from gross negligence or
389 willful misconduct as these terms are defined in s. 823.11.
390 (bb) Section 327.4109, relating to anchoring or mooring in
391 a prohibited area, for which the penalty is:
392 1. For a first offense, up to a maximum of $100 $50.
393 2. For a second offense, up to a maximum of $250 $100.
394 3. For a third or subsequent offense, up to a maximum of
395 $500 $250.
396 (cc) Section 327.463(4)(a) and (b), relating to vessels
397 creating special hazards, for which the penalty is:
398 1. For a first offense, $100 $50.
399 2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a
400 prior offense, $250 $100.
401 3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a
402 prior offense, $500 $250.
403 (dd) Section 327.371, relating to the regulation of human
404 powered vessels.
405 (ee) Section 328.03, relating to an improper transfer of
406 title, for which the penalty is up to a maximum of $500.
407 (ff) Section 328.48(9), relating to the failure to update
408 vessel registration information, for which the penalty is up to
409 a maximum of $500.
410
411 Any person cited for a violation of any provision of this
412 subsection shall be deemed to be charged with a noncriminal
413 infraction, shall be cited for such an infraction, and shall be
414 cited to appear before the county court. The civil penalty for
415 any such infraction is $100 $50, except as otherwise provided in
416 this section. Any person who fails to appear or otherwise
417 properly respond to a uniform boating citation shall, in
418 addition to the charge relating to the violation of the boating
419 laws of this state, must be charged with the offense of failing
420 to respond to such citation and, upon conviction, be guilty of a
421 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
422 775.082 or s. 775.083. A written warning to this effect shall be
423 provided at the time such uniform boating citation is issued.
424 (8) All fees and civil penalties assessed and collected
425 pursuant to this section shall be remitted by the clerk of the
426 court to the Department of Revenue to be deposited into the
427 Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund for boating safety
428 education or law enforcement purposes.
429 Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 327.731, Florida
430 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to that
431 section, to read:
432 327.731 Mandatory education for violators.—
433 (1) A person convicted of a criminal violation under this
434 chapter, convicted of a noncriminal infraction under this
435 chapter if the infraction resulted in a reportable boating
436 accident, or convicted of two noncriminal infractions as
437 specified in s. 327.73(1)(h)-(k), (m), (o), (p), and (s)-(y),
438 the said infractions occurring within a 12-month period, must:
439 (a) Enroll in, attend, and successfully complete, at his or
440 her own expense, a classroom or online boating safety course
441 that is approved by and meets the minimum standards established
442 by commission rule;
443 (b) File with the commission within 90 days proof of
444 successful completion of the course; and
445 (c) Refrain from operating a vessel until he or she has
446 filed proof of successful completion of the course with the
447 commission; and
448 (d) Pay a fine of $500. The clerk of the court shall remit
449 all fines assessed and collected under this paragraph to the
450 Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine Resources
451 Conservation Trust Fund to support law enforcement activities.
452 (4) The commission shall maintain a program to ensure
453 compliance with the mandatory boating safety education
454 requirements under this section. This program must:
455 (a) Track any citations resulting in a conviction under
456 this section and the disposition of such citations.
457 (b) Send specific notices to each person subject to the
458 requirement for mandatory boating safety education.
459 Section 6. Subsection (3) of section 328.03, Florida
460 Statutes, is amended to read:
461 328.03 Certificate of title required.—
462 (3) A person may shall not sell, assign, or transfer a
463 vessel titled by the state without delivering to the purchaser
464 or transferee a valid certificate of title with an assignment on
465 it showing the transfer of title to the purchaser or transferee.
466 A person may shall not purchase or otherwise acquire a vessel
467 required to be titled by the state without obtaining a
468 certificate of title for the vessel in his or her name. The
469 purchaser or transferee shall, within 30 days after a change in
470 vessel ownership, file an application for a title transfer with
471 the county tax collector. An additional $10 fee must shall be
472 charged against the purchaser or transferee if he or she files a
473 title transfer application after the 30-day period. The county
474 tax collector may shall be entitled to retain $5 of the
475 additional amount. Any person who does not properly transfer
476 title of a vessel pursuant to this chapter is subject to the
477 penalties provided in s. 327.73(1)(ee).
478 Section 7. Effective July 1, 2023, subsection (4) of
479 section 328.03, Florida Statutes, as amended by chapter 2019-76,
480 Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
481 328.03 Certificate of title required.—
482 (4) An additional $10 fee shall be charged against the
483 purchaser or transferee if he or she files a title transfer
484 application after the 30-day period. The county tax collector
485 may shall be entitled to retain $5 of the additional amount. Any
486 person who does not properly transfer title of a vessel pursuant
487 to this chapter is subject to the penalties provided in s.
488 327.73(1)(ee).
489 Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
490 (4) of section 328.48, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
491 subsection (9) is added to that section, to read:
492 328.48 Vessel registration, application, certificate,
493 number, decal, duplicate certificate.—
494 (1)(a) The owner of each vessel required by this law to pay
495 a registration fee and secure an identification number shall
496 file an application with the county tax collector. The
497 application must shall provide the owner’s name and physical
498 residential or business address; residency status; personal or
499 business identification; and a complete description of the
500 vessel, and must shall be accompanied by payment of the
501 applicable fee required in s. 328.72. An individual applicant
502 must provide a valid driver license or identification card
503 issued by this state or another state or a valid passport. A
504 business applicant must provide a federal employer
505 identification number, if applicable, verification that the
506 business is authorized to conduct business in this the state, or
507 a Florida city or county business license or number.
508 Registration is not required for any vessel that is not used on
509 the waters of this state. Upon receipt of an application from a
510 live-aboard vessel owner whose primary residence is the vessel,
511 the commission may authorize such owner to provide a post office
512 box address in lieu of a physical residential or business
513 address.
514 (4) Each certificate of registration issued must shall
515 state among other items the numbers awarded to the vessel, the
516 hull identification number, the name and physical residential or
517 business address of the owner, and a description of the vessel,
518 except that certificates of registration for vessels constructed
519 or assembled by the owner registered for the first time must
520 shall state all the foregoing information except the hull
521 identification number. The numbers must shall be placed on each
522 side of the forward half of the vessel in such position as to
523 provide clear legibility for identification, except, if the
524 vessel is an airboat, the numbers may be placed on each side of
525 the rudder. The numbers awarded to the vessel must shall read
526 from left to right and must shall be in block characters of good
527 proportion not less than 3 inches in height. The numbers must
528 shall be of a solid color that which will contrast with the
529 color of the background and must shall be so maintained as to be
530 clearly visible and legible; i.e., dark numbers on a light
531 background or light numbers on a dark background. The
532 certificate of registration must shall be pocket-sized and must
533 shall be available for inspection on the vessel for which issued
534 whenever such vessel is in operation. Upon receipt of an
535 application from a live-aboard vessel owner whose primary
536 residence is the vessel, the commission may authorize such owner
537 to provide a post office box address in lieu of a physical
538 residential address.
539 (9) A person who does not update his or her vessel
540 registration information with the county tax collector within 6
541 months after a change to the information is subject to the
542 penalties provided in s. 327.73(1)(ff).
543 Section 9. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of $2
544 million in recurring funds is appropriated from the General
545 Revenue Fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
546 and 7 full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate
547 of 322,763 are authorized to create an Illegal Boating Strike
548 Team for the purpose of coordinating law enforcement at the
549 federal, state, and local levels to increase public safety and
550 decrease boating accidents, injuries, fatalities, and criminal
551 activity. In areas where illegal charters and illegal liveries
552 are found to be operating, the strike team shall do all of the
553 following:
554 (1) Enhance law enforcement activities by increasing
555 intergovernmental coordination to address any criminal conduct
556 or safety violations, taxes and fees, and licensure regulations
557 by such charter and livery operations.
558 (2) Address unsafe customer pick-ups and drop-offs.
559 (3) Improve signage and set appropriate speed limits in
560 waterways.
561 (4) Ensure that correct and current information is used for
562 vessel registration.
563 (5) Publicize existing reporting systems and use social
564 media to encourage citizens to report illegal activities.
565 (6) Develop educational campaigns to address and deter
566 illegal charter operations, illegal livery operations, boating
567 under the influence, and related public safety issues and to
568 encourage the reporting of boating violations.
569 Section 10. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of
570 $100,000 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
571 appropriated to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
572 and one full-time equivalent position with associated salary
573 rate of 60,000 is authorized to implement the amendment made to
574 s. 327.731, Florida Statutes, by this act relating to ensuring
575 compliance with mandatory boating safety education requirements.
576 Section 11. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of
577 $125,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
578 appropriated to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
579 for the purpose of implementing the livery permitting
580 requirement in s. 327.54(2), Florida Statutes.
581 Section 12. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
582 act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2022.