HF 312 (LSB 1771HH (4) 90)

HOUSE FILE 312

BY  MOMMSEN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the registration requirements for certain vessels, requiring water use permits, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 462A.2, Code 2023, is amended by adding the following new subsections:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  26A.  “Paddleboard” means any long, narrow, somewhat rounded, and inherently buoyant recreational vessel that is constructed from a flat, or nearly flat, rigid material, is propelled by human muscular effort using a pole or single-bladed or double-bladed paddle, and is operated by an individual who is kneeling, standing, or lying on the vessel.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  26B.  “Paddlecraft” means any nonmotorized vessel powered primarily by paddle but does not include paddleboards.
    Sec. 2.  Section 462A.5, subsection 3, paragraph a, subparagraph (1), Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  For vessels of any length without motor or sail, twelve twenty dollars.
    Sec. 3.  Section 462A.6, subsection 7, paragraph b, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  Conventional design canoes and kayak type vessels, thirteen feet or less in of any length.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  462A.6B  Water use permit decal —— water trail development and maintenance fund.
   The owner of a paddlecraft using the paddlecraft on waters of this state that are under the jurisdiction of the commission shall purchase and display on the front external half of the paddlecraft a water use permit decal. The department shall make the water use permit decal available to purchase at water recreation facilities operated by the department and at retail locations for seven dollars plus any administrative and authorized writing fees. The water use permit decal shall be valid from January 1 to December 31 of the same calendar year. Moneys from the purchase of water use permit decals shall be deposited in the state fish and game protection fund created in section 456A.17 and may be used for water trail development, enforcing navigation laws, and promoting water safety. The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.
    Sec. 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  The following take effect January 1, 2024:
   The sections of this Act amending section 462A.6 and enacting section 462A.6B.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to registration requirements for certain vessels. Under current law, vessels of any length without a motor shall pay to a county recorder a registration fee of $12 in order for the vessel to be issued an identification number. A vessel may not be used on the waters of this state that are under the jurisdiction of the natural resource commission (NRC) without an identification number. Current law exempts conventional design canoes and kayak type vessels that are 13 feet or less in length from the numbering and registration requirements.
   The bill increases the registration fee for vessels of any length without a motor to $20. However, the bill exempts a canoe or kayak type vessel of any length from registration requirements.
   The bill requires an owner of a paddlecraft using the paddlecraft on waters of this state under NRC jurisdiction to purchase and display on the paddlecraft a water use permit decal. The department of natural resources (DNR) shall make the water use permit decal available to purchase at water recreation facilities operated by DNR and at retail locations for $7 plus any administrative and authorized writing fees. The water use permit decal shall be valid from January 1 to December 31 of the same calendar year. Moneys from the purchase of water use permit decals shall be deposited in the state fish and game protection fund for purposes of water trail development, administering and enforcing navigation laws, and promoting water safety.
   The provisions of the bill relating to vessels exempt from registration and relating to water use permit decals take effect July 1, 2024.