The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to adopt a permanent rule that removes the proctoring requirement for boating safety exams and moves fee provisions into rule, agency staff said during the commission’s July meeting.

Deputy Director of Business Operations Frank Fiske told commissioners the change implements Public Chapter 214, which was passed in April and removes the monitored-exam requirement from statute. The rule amends existing language to specify that boating safety exam permits may be purchased for $10 from any licensing agent that sells hunting and fishing licenses, including TWRA regional offices and the TWRA online licensing portal. A $5 fee for replacement cards was retained, staff said.

Fiske said the rule eliminates a section intended to allow boat dealers to administer monitored exams at dealerships because that program “never really took off.” The adopted language also clarifies course-provider and certification language and confirms that people born before January 1989 are treated under the defined certification date while allowing providers to issue certificates to other participants for insurance or certification purposes.

After staff presentation and a period for questions, the commission conducted a roll-call vote. The transcript records a roll call with commissioners individually answering “Aye”; the chairman then announced “All ayes” and the rule passed.

Agency staff said the changes have been publicly noticed, were filed with the secretary of state’s office and appeared on the agency’s public notice webpage prior to the hearing.