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Legislative Update: Boater Safety Bill
I
am pleased to report that HB 1627, regarding boater safety, continues
to progress its way through the Virginia General Assembly. This bill
was introduced in the House of Delegates by Delegate Kathy Byron at the
start of the 2007 General Assembly session. Since its introduction,
this bill has passed the committee it was assigned to in the House of
Delegates, by a vote of 19-3; passed the full House of Delegates by a
margin of 90-8; successfully passed the Senate committee to which it
was assigned by a vote of 13-1; and has now passed the Senate by a
margin of 40-0. What remains now is for both the Senate and House to
pass only the amendments that were made along the way, and for the
Governor to sign this bill into law.
If this measure
becomes law, it would require that all boaters in Virginia pass a
Boaters Safety Course in the future. Exempted from this legislation,
however, would be law enforcement officers while in the performance of
their official duties, and anyone operating a boat with a 10HP or
smaller motor. This measure would not, however, become effective
until July 1, 2008 and would be phased in over a period of 8 years,
depending on the boater’s age at the time the measure is enacted. For
those that have operated boats for many years and feel sufficiently
qualified to do so, an exemption exam will also be offered. If passed,
that boater would not be required to take a boater safety course in the
future. Once taken, a boater safety course would never have to be
repeated. Pass it once, and you’re good to go from now on.
As
many of you are aware, B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of Virginia has
worked as an integral member of the Virginia Safe Boating Alliance,
since its inception last summer, to help craft and pass this
legislation. If not for the diligence of many of our members across
the Commonwealth, it is highly unlikely that this measure would have
had the success it has enjoyed thus far. To all of those who called
their Senators and Delegates, you have my sincere thanks and
appreciation.
This legislation is a huge step forward
for the boating community in Virginia. If enacted, this will bring us
closer in compliance with the boater safety requirements already
enacted in 37 other states and the District of Columbia. Being in step
with our sister states across the country, however, does not begin to
compare with the lives that will be saved by this legislation.
If
you have not already done so, I would strongly encourage you to enroll
in a boater safety course in your area. The classes are conducted by
both the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the
various U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas around the state. There
is no charge for the course, and it can be completed in 8 hours. Once
having completed the course yourself, I would also encourage you to
consider becoming a boater safety instructor. If you have
questions or would like further information about this important
legislation, please feel free to contact me via email: rb@vafederationnation.comNow more than ever, I look forward to seeing you on the water!
Robert Blankenship, Conservation Director
Do you want to improve your fishing? Here’s how you can help!
Currently, there are two grant programs available to the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of Virginia that you need to be aware of.
The
first of these programs is through a partnership of B.A.S.S. Federation
Nation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This $500,000
program represents the most ambitious attempt in fisheries management
history to enhance and protect fish habitat. This program also puts
us, as Federation Nation members, squarely in the middle of this
opportunity. Through small grants of $10,000 - $30,000, the “More Fish
Partnership Fund” will enable local Federation Nation clubs and other
community conservation groups to fund projects that support the
National Fish Habitat Action Plan’s goal of protecting, preserving, and
improving fish habitats across the nation. What does this have to do
with you? If we are to meet the November 1, 2006 deadline for applying
for this grant program, we need to identify needs and opportunities to
restore and conserve declining reservoirs and other aquatic habitats.
If you have ideas for projects or know of fisheries that are in
decline, please contact me by email or telephone.
The
second of these opportunities are Boating Safety grants available
through the Boat U.S. Foundation. These grants, of up to $4,000, are
available to local community organizations and non-profit groups to
fund projects that will help make our waterways safer for anglers and
recreational boaters. The goal of this program is to determine and
fund innovative projects that will use positive reinforcement to
enhance boater safety. B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of Virginia is
already working with one lake in Virginia to apply for funding to mark
that lake with navigational and hazard signage, of which none currently
exists. Other ideas might be projects that promote the use of personal
floatation devices, encourage safe boating practices, discourage
impaired boating, or any of a host of other ideas to promote safe
boating. As with the previous grant program, if we are to meet the
November 1, 2006 application deadline, I need ideas for projects. As
stated by Chris Edmonston, Director of the Foundation’s Boating Safety
Programs, “If you ever had a good idea that you believed would make
recreational boating safer, now is your chance to act.”
Robert Blankenship, Conservation Director
B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of Virginia
Email: rb@vafederationnation.com
Phone: (276) 613-1243
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