Senate
File
108
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
108
BY
DICKEY
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
the
use
of
personal
flotation
devices
on
1
personal
watercraft.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
TLSB
1638SS
(3)
91
sb/js
S.F.
108
Section
1.
Section
462A.9,
subsection
6,
Code
2025,
is
1
amended
to
read
as
follows:
2
6.
a.
Every
vessel
shall
carry
at
least
one
life
preserver,
3
life
belt,
ring
buoy
or
other
device,
of
the
sort
prescribed
4
by
the
rules
of
the
commission,
for
each
passenger,
so
placed
5
as
to
be
readily
accessible.
This
does
not
apply
to
a
vessel
6
which
that
is
a
racing
shell
used
in
the
sport
of
sculling
or
to
7
a
sailboard
while
used
for
windsurfing.
8
b.
A
person
shall
not
operate
a
personal
watercraft
on
the
9
waters
of
this
state
under
the
jurisdiction
of
the
commission
10
unless
every
person
on
board
the
personal
watercraft
is
wearing
11
a
type
I,
II,
III,
or
V
personal
flotation
device
that
is
12
approved
by
the
United
States
coast
guard,
which
may
include
a
13
device
known
as
a
“float
coat”
that
meets
this
standard,
while
14
the
personal
watercraft
is
under
way.
A
personal
flotation
15
device
described
in
this
paragraph
is
not
required
to
be
worn
16
by
a
passenger
of
a
personal
watercraft
if
the
person
satisfies
17
all
of
the
following:
18
(1)
The
person
is
at
least
eighteen
years
of
age.
19
(2)
The
personal
watercraft
is
moving
at
ten
miles
per
hour
20
or
less
or
is
traveling
in
a
no-wake
zone.
21
EXPLANATION
22
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
23
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
24
This
bill
relates
to
the
use
of
personal
flotation
devices
on
25
personal
watercraft.
The
bill
requires
all
persons
on
board
a
26
personal
watercraft
to
wear
a
personal
flotation
device.
The
27
bill
provides
an
exception
to
the
personal
flotation
device
28
requirement
when
the
person
is
at
least
18
years
of
age
and
the
29
personal
watercraft
is
traveling
at
10
miles
per
hour
or
less
30
or
is
in
a
no-wake
zone.
Under
current
administrative
rules,
31
all
operators
and
passengers
of
personal
watercraft
must
wear
a
32
specified
personal
flotation
device.
A
“personal
watercraft”
33
means
a
vessel,
less
than
16
feet
in
length,
which
is
propelled
34
by
a
water
jet
pump
or
similar
machinery
as
its
primary
source
35
-1-
LSB
1638SS
(3)
91
sb/js
1/
2
S.F.
108
of
motor
propulsion
and
is
designed
to
be
operated
by
a
person
1
sitting,
standing,
or
kneeling
on
the
vessel,
rather
than
being
2
operated
by
a
person
sitting,
standing,
or
kneeling
inside
the
3
vessel.
A
person
in
violation
of
the
personal
flotation
device
4
requirement
is
guilty
of
a
simple
misdemeanor
punishable
by
a
5
scheduled
fine
of
$30.
6
-2-
LSB
1638SS
(3)
91
sb/js
2/
2