House Amendment 3
S 96 - Session 125 (2023-2024)
Boating safety and education program

Rep. Long proposes the following amendment (LC-96.HDB0011H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 3, by striking Section 50-21-95(A) and inserting:

(A)  It is unlawful for a person to operate upon the waters of this State a vessel powered by an engine of twenty-five horsepower or greater, a personal watercraft, or a specialty propcraft without having possession of a South Carolina boating safety certificate issued by the department in the person's name, unless the person:

  (1) was born on or before July 1, 2007;

  (2) is in possession of a license to operate a vessel issued by the United States Coast Guard in the person's name, regardless of the expiration date on the license;

  (3) is in possession of a merchant mariner credential issued by the United States Coast Guard in the person's name, regardless of the expiration date on the credential;

  (4) is a nonresident in possession of a boating safety certificate, or an equivalency, issued by another state in the nonresident's name;

  (5) is operating a vessel, personal watercraft, or specialty propcraft from a business engaged in the renting of vessels, personal watercrafts, or specialty propcrafts and is in possession of a valid boat rental safety certificate issued in the person's name; or

  (6) is accompanied by a person at least eighteen years old who:

   (a) is in possession of a South Carolina boating safety certificate issued by the department in the person's name; or

   (b) meets one of the criteria in items (1) through (4) of this subsection.