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Senate advances personal watercraft safety requirements for 16–17-year-olds; parental participation and rental liability debated
Summary
First-substitute SB 131, led by Sen. Tanner, expands safety certification and enforcement for motorized personal watercraft, requiring certification (with parental involvement) for 16–17-year-old operators, waterproof certification cards, and clarifies definition to exclude sailboats; it passed to third reading (27–0).
Senators debated and advanced the first substitute to SB 131 on Feb. 19, which tightens safety requirements for motorized personal watercraft operators and expands certification to include 16–17-year-olds.
Sponsor Senator Tanner and others described growing numbers of personal watercraft and an associated safety concern. The bill (as amended on the floor) clarifies definitions to insert the word "motorized" before "personal watercraft," removes sailboats from scope and requires operator certification for certain younger users. Sponsors said existing certification programs have reduced accidents in younger age groups and expanding certification is expected to reduce incidents among 16–17-year-olds, who have seen increases in reportable accidents.
Floor debate focused on practical implementation: where classes would be held, class cost (sponsor estimated under $20), whether parents must attend certification classes and how rental agencies will be policed. Senator Holmgren and others noted the program already operates as an administrative rule for younger operators and that classes have been offered statewide; sponsors acknowledged enforcement and training capacity would require additional manpower and a small fiscal note.
Senators also discussed liability for rental shops and the difficulty of policing rental use. Several members agreed to pursue companion liability legislation. After extended discussion and several technical amendments, the Senate advanced the bill by roll call (27 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent) to the third-reading calendar.
